Publication
Title
Modulation of Rh glycoproteins, ammonia excretion and fluxes in three freshwater teleosts when exposed chronically to high environmental ammonia
Author
Abstract
We investigated relationships among branchial unidirectional Na+ fluxes, ammonia excretion, urea excretion, plasma ammonia, plasma cortisol, and gill transporter expression and function in three freshwater fish differing in their sensitivity to high environmental ammonia (HEA). The highly ammonia-sensitive salmonid Oncorhynchus mykiss (rainbow trout), the less ammonia-sensitive cyprinid Cyprinus carpio (common carp) and the highly ammonia-resistant cyprinid Carassius auratus (goldfish) were exposed chronically (12168 h) to 1 mmol l−1 ammonia (as NH4HCO3; pH 7.9). During HEA exposure, carp and goldfish elevated ammonia excretion (JAmm) and Na+ influx rates (Graphic) while trout experienced higher plasma ammonia (TAmm) and were only able to restore control rates of JAmm and Graphic. All three species exhibited increases in Na+ efflux rate (Graphic). At the molecular level, there was evidence for activation of a Na+/NH4+ exchange metabolon probably in response to elevated plasma cortisol and TAmm, though surprisingly, some compensatory responses preceded molecular responses in all three species. Expression of Rhbg, Rhcg (Rhcg-a and Rhcg-b), H+-ATPase (V-type, B-subunit) and Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) mRNA was upregulated in goldfish, Rhcg-a and NKA in carp, and Rhcg2, NHE-2 (Na+/H+ exchanger) and H+-ATPase in trout. Branchial H+-ATPase activity was elevated in goldfish and trout, and NKA activity in goldfish and carp, but NKA did not appear to function preferentially as a Na+/NH4+-ATPase in any species. Goldfish alone increased urea excretion rate during HEA, in concert with elevated urea transporter mRNA expression in gills. Overall, goldfish showed more effective compensatory responses towards HEA than carp, while trout were least effective.
Language
English
Source (journal)
The journal of experimental biology. - London, 1930, currens
Publication
London : 2013
ISSN
0022-0949 [print]
1477-9145 [online]
DOI
10.1242/JEB.084574
Volume/pages
216 :15 (2013) , p. 2917-2930
ISI
000321614700027
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Comparative Fish Physiology: Putting Feeding into the Picture.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 24.07.2013
Last edited 09.10.2023
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