title: Modulation of Rh glycoproteins, ammonia excretion and Na+ fluxes in three freshwater teleosts when exposed chronically to high environmental ammonia.
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 (12-168 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 ( ) while trout experienced higher plasma ammonia (TAmm) and were only able to restore control rates of JAmm and . All three species exhibited increases in Na(+) efflux rate ( ). 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.
authors: Systemic Physiological and Ecotoxicological Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, BE-2020 Antwerp, Belgium. sinha_cife@rediffmail.com
authors: Amit Kumar
authors: AK
authors: Sinha
authors: Hon Jung
authors: HJ
authors: Liew
authors: C Michele
authors: CM
authors: Nawata
authors: Ronny
authors: R
authors: Blust
authors: Chris M
authors: CM
authors: Wood
authors: Gudrun
authors: G
authors: De Boeck
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002347:Carps / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005399:Fishes / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005618:Fresh Water; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005880:Gills / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006054:Goldfish / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017686:Oncorhynchus mykiss / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012964:Sodium / Q000378:metabolism*; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014508:Urea / Q000378:metabolism; D000096982:Urea Transporters
chemical_list: D000641:Ammonia; D029941:Fish Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D011188:Potassium; D006180:Proton-Translocating ATPases; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012964:Sodium; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D014508:Urea; D000096982:Urea Transporters
keywords: HEA; Na+/NH4+ exchange metabolon; common carp; goldfish; rainbow trout; urea excretion