Aquaporins (AQPs) are important for cell volume regulatory processes that follow solute transport across polarized epithelial cell layers, such as those in the salivary glands. Neither aquaporin embryonic expression nor aquaporin's role in cellular homeostasis during gland development is completely understood. We, therefore, wished to map the presence of aquaporins in mouse submandibular salivary glands from embryonic day 13.5 (E13.5) to 5 days after birth (birth = E19.5) and compare it to that in young adults. Microarray methodology was used to map expression of different AQPs at various developmental stages. Based on these findings RT-PCR technique was used to verify and expand upon these results. Western blot was applied to identify the presence of AQP5 protein. This descriptive work shows that AQP5 has the highest and AQP8 the lowest expression pattern among the studied AQPs. The expression magnitude follows this order: AQP5>AQP1>AQP4>AQP11>AQP8. AQP5 is the most abundantly expressed AQP in pre- and postnatal development, as well as in young adults. The expression peak occurs in young adult female animals. AQP1 reaches a peak the day before birth, but is less strongly expressed in young adults. AQP4 showed a general weak expression during prenatal and early postnatal development, while a peak occurred around birth. AQP11 is relatively stably expressed in the pre-and postnatal development, but decreases in young adults. Finally, AQP8 expression peaks around birth. Western blot results revealed a similar temporal pattern of AQP5 protein expression. These observations may indicate that the presence of water channels plays a necessary role in the development of a functional submandibular salivary gland.