Dexamethasone modulates the activity of the eel branchial Na+/K+ATPase in both chloride and pavement cells

In fish, gills actively accumulate ions in freshwater (FW) with Na+ absorption taking place at the level of pavement cells, and excrete monovalent ions, mainly Na+ and Cl-, through the chloride cells in sea water (SW). The Na+/K+ATPase plays a crucial role in the functionality of osmoregulatory cells and we showed previously that angiotensin II modulates its activity in the eel gill (1). We here show the effects of synthetic steroid dexamethasone (DEX) on the activity of Na+/K+ATPase in both gill pavement and chloride cells from FW- and SW-adapted animals. Results showed that in the chloride cells 100 nM DEX provoked a significant increment in the activity of Na+/K+ATPase in both SW- and FW-adapted animals. This effect was greatest at 2 hours in SW, and at 6 hours in FW. The increment in the activity of the Na+/K+ATPase was dose-dependent in both environmental adaptations. Conversely, in pavement cells from FW-adapted eels 100 nM DEX decremented the activity of Na+/K+ATPase (4-fold reduction after 6 hour incubations), while in SW, DEX increased the enzyme activity of about 25% at 2 hours, and of about 55% at 6 hours. These results are consistent with the different physiological roles that pavement and chloride cells have in the two different adaptive conditions.     

The nature and properties of the inducible sodium-plus-potassium ion-dependent adenosine triphosphatase in the gills of eels (Anguilla anguilla) adapted to fresh water and sea water

1. Gill tissue from eels adapted to fresh water or to sea water was disrupted in 0.32m-sucrose containing 0.1% (w/v) sodium deoxycholate and the subcellular distribution of (Na(+)+K(+))-dependent adenosine triphosphatase was determined. 2. About 70% of the recovered enzyme was in a fraction sedimenting between 225000g(av.)-min and 6000000g(av.)-min; the specific activities of enzymes from tissues of freshwater and seawater eels were 16 and 51 mumol of phosphate/h per mg of protein respectively. 3. The enzymes from gills of freshwater and seawater eels were indistinguishable on the basis of a number of parameters. These included phosphorylation by [gamma-(32)P]ATP, the binding of [(3)H]ouabain, the extent to which bound [(3)H]ouabain was displaced by increasing concentrations of KCl and pH optima. 4. Electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gels in sodium dodecyl sulphate showed that enzyme preparations from both sources had an identical number of protein components. 5. The higher specific activity of (Na(+)+K(+))-dependent adenosine triphosphatase from tissue of seawater eels was accompanied by increased amounts of two protein components. One of these proteins retained (32)P after treatment of the enzyme with [gamma-(32)P]ATP and had mol.wt. 97000; the other component was a glycoprotein with mol.wt. approx. 46000. 6. The results are discussed in terms of the nature of the transepithelial NaCl pumps in the gills of freshwater and seawater fish.     

Na+, K+ ATPase,quabain binding and quabain-sensitive oxygen consumption in gills fromPlatichthys flesus adapted to seawater and freshwater

Journal of Comparative Physiology A - The levels of Na+, K+ ATPase were measured in gills fromPlatichthys flesus adapted to seawater and freshwater using a variety of experimental techniques. Na+,...     

Ca2+-activated adenosinetriphosphatase activity in the gills of freshwater-and seawater-adapted eels (Anguilla rostrata).

1. Ca2+ -activated ATPase activity was higher in the gills of freshwater acclimated eels than in the gills of seawater acclimated eels. 2. The properties of the enzyme and the amount of protein extracted were identical in freshwater and seawater acclimated eels.     

ATPase stimulated by Na+ or K+ in gills of the freshwater mussel Anodonta.

1. Microsomal preparations from the gills of the freshwater mussel anodonta cygnea cellensis show Mg2+ -dependent Na+ - or K+ -stimulated ATPase activity, which is not inhibited by ouabain. 2. Na+ - or Ka+ -ATPase activity is decreased by Ca2+, acetylcholine, choline, and tetramethylammonium, but slightly increased by ethyl alcohol. 3. It is tentatively suggested that Na+ - or K+ -ATPase is involved in the mechanism of active monovalent cation uptake through the gills of freshwater mussels.     

Identification by differential display of a hypertonicity-inducible inward rectifier potassium channel highly expressed in chloride cells

By using differential mRNA display to monitor the molecular alterations associated with adaptation of euryhaline eels to different salinities, we identified a cDNA fragment strongly induced in seawater eel gills. Cloning of a full-length cDNA and its expression in COS-7 cells indicated that the clone codes for an inward rectifier K+ channel (eKir) of 372 amino acid residues, which has two transmembrane segments and a typical pore-forming region (H5). Only low sequence similarities are present, except the H5 region, compared with other members of the inward rectifier K+ channel family (Kir). Consistent with this divergence in the amino acid sequence, a phylogenetic analysis indicated early divergence and independent evolution of eKir from other members; it is only distantly related to the Kir5.0 subfamily members. RNase protection analysis showed that eKir is highly expressed in the seawater eel gill, kidney, and posterior intestine but very weakly in freshwater eels. Immunohistochemistry of gill sections revealed dense localization of eKir in the chloride cells. Immunoelectron microscopy indicated that eKir is mainly present in the microtubular system in the chloride cell. This location and its salt-inducible nature suggest that the eKir channel cloned here is a novel member of the Kir5.0 subfamily of the Kir family and is implicated in osmoregulation.     

Ouabain-insensitive Na+ stimulation of a microsomal Mg2+ -ATPase in gills of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax L.)

Bass gill microsomal preparations contain a Mg2+-dependent Na+-stimulated ATPase activity in the absence of K+, whose characteristics are compared with those of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase of the same preparations. The activity at 30 degrees C is 11.3 mumol Pi X mg-1 protein X hr-1 under optimal conditions (5 mM MgATP, 75 mM Na+, 75 mM HEPES, pH 6.0) and exhibits a lower pH optimum than the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. The Na+ stimulation of ATPase is only 17% inhibited by 10-3M ouabain and completely abolished by 2.5 mM ethacrinic acid which on the contrary cause, respectively, 100% and 34% inhibition of the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase. Both Na+-and (Na+ + K+)-stimulated activities can hydrolyze nucleotides other than ATP in the efficiency order ATP greater than CTP greater than UTP greater than GTP and ATP greater than CTP greater than GPT greater than UTP, respectively. In the presence of 10(-3)M ouabain millimolar concentrations of K+ ion lower the Na+ activation (90% inhibition at 40 mM K+). The Na+-ATPase is less sensitive than (Na+ + K+)-ATPase to the Ca2+ induced inhibition as the former is only 57.5% inhibited by a concentration of 1 X 10(-2)M which completely suppresses the latter. The thermosensitivity follows the order Mg2+--greater than (Na+ + K+)--greater than Na+-ATPase. A similar break of the Arrhenius plot of the three enzymes is found. Only some of these characteristics do coincide with those of a Na+-ATPase described elsewhere. A presumptive physiological role of Na+-ATPase activity in seawater adapted teleost gills is suggested.     

RING finger, B-box, and coiled-coil (RBCC) protein expression in branchial epithelial cells of Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica.

An RBCC (RING finger, B-box, and coiled-coil) protein was identified that belongs to the superfamily of zinc-binding proteins and is specifically expressed in the gill of eel, Anguilla japonica. Euryhaline fishes such as eels can migrate between freshwater and seawater, which is considered to be accomplished by efficient remodeling of the architecture and function of the gill, a major osmoregulatory organ. To identify molecules involved in such adaptive changes, we performed differential display using mRNA preparations from freshwater and seawater eel gills and obtained an RBCC clone among several differentially expressed clones. The clone encoded a protein of 514 amino acid residues with structural features characteristic of the RBCC protein; we therefore named it eRBCC (e for eel). eRBCC mRNA was specifically expressed in the gills with a greater extent in the gills of freshwater eels. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the expression of eRBCC is confined to particular epithelial cells of the gills including freshwater-specific lamellar chloride cells. The RING finger of eRBCC was found to have a ubiquitin ligase activity, suggesting an important regulatory role of eRBCC in the remodeling of branchial cells.     

Two isoforms of the Na+/K+/2Cl- cotransporter are expressed in the European eel (Anguilla anguilla)

Two cDNA isoforms of the NKCC1 secretory cotransporter have been isolated from the European eel. The NKCC1a isoform exhibited mRNA expression in a wide range of tissues in a similar fashion to mammals, whereas NKCC1b was expressed primarily in the brain. The effect of freshwater (FW) to seawater (SW) transfer on NKCC1a expression was dependent on the developmental stage. In non-migratory yellow eels, NKCC1a mRNA expression in the gill was transiently up-regulated 4.3-fold after 2 days but also subsequently by 2.5-6-fold 3 weeks after SW transfer. Gill NKCC1a expression was localised mainly in branchial chloride cells of SW acclimated yellow eels. In contrast to yellow eels, NKCC1a mRNA abundance was not significantly different following SW acclimation in silver eel gill. NKCC1a mRNA abundance decreased in the kidney following SW acclimation and this may correlate with lower tubular ion/fluid secretion and urine flow rates in SW teleosts. Kidney NKCC1a mRNA expression in silver eels was also significantly lower than in yellow eels, suggesting some pre-acclimation of mRNA levels. NKCC1a mRNA was expressed at similar low levels in the middle intestine of FW- and SW-acclimated yellow or silver eels, suggesting the presence of an ion secretory mechanism in this gut segment.     

Water balance in the european eel (Anguilla anguilla L.). Role of the oesophagus in the utilisation of drinking water and a study of the osmotic permeability of the gills (author's transl)]

10 New experimental devices are described which allow chonic measurements of drinking rate and osmotic gill permeability in the eel. 20 The oesophagus of the seawater (SW) silver eel plays a role in osmoregulation. It decreases the concentration of Cl- and Na+ of the ingested SW without losing water in the serosal to mucosal direction. This allows for immediate water absorption in the intestine and decreases the quantity of ions actively absorbed by the intestine. In the freshwater (FW) silver eel, the oesophagus is impermeable to water, Cl- and Na+. The ionic impermeability exists only in the serosal to mucosal direction. A mucosal to serosal permeability to Cl- and Na+ exists in the FW oesophagus receiving hypertonic drinking water, this promotes seawater adaptation. 30 The osmotic gill permeability, measured in vivo in the silver eel, is very low in FW and decreases slightly in SW. Thus, the silver eel has an osmotic gill permeability preadapted to SW life. The kinetics of FW to SW adaptation are described.     

Properties and nature of (Na+ + Mg2+)-dependent adenosine triphosphatase in the gills of the eel, angvilla anguilla (L.)

The specific activity of (Na⁺ + Mg²⁺)-dependent ATPase is three times greater in the microsomes of sea-water eels than in freshwater eels; the specific activity is one quarter of that of (Na⁺ + K⁺ + Mg²⁺)-dependent ATPase in both cases.(Na⁺ + Mg²⁺)-dependent ATPase is optimally active in a medium containing 8 mM NaCl, 4 mM MgCI₂, 4 mM ATP, pH 8.8 and at 30 °C; the enzyme is inhibited by ouabain, by NaCl concentrations > 100 mM and by treatment with urea.It is concluded that the (Na⁺ + Mg²⁺)-dependent ATPase activity of gills arises from the presence of a (Na⁺ + K⁺ + Mg²⁺)-dependent ATPase.     

Histological and enzyme histochemical changes found in the renal tubules of eels transferred from freshwater to seawater

Renal tubules of the eel,Anguilla japonica, transferred from freshwater to seawater were examined histologically and histochemically. The epithelial cells of renal tubules in eels adapted to seawater for 10 days were less interdigitated in comparison with those in freshwater. The poor interdigitation of epithelial cells seems to be a structure relating to high water permeability in the renal tubules of eels in seawater. Newly formed nephrons and degenerated ones were especially recognized in eels adapted to seawater for 2 and 4 days. These findings indicate that some of the nephrons equipped with poorly interdigitated epithelial cells are produced newly within a few days after transfer from freshwater to seawater. No significant difference was encountered in the activities and localizations of all enzymes examined between the renal tubules of freshwater and seawater eels. The enzyme activities and localizations did not reflect the physiological changes in the renal tubules of eels adapted from freshwater to seawater.     

Effect of alloxan diabetes on (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase in brush border membrane of the mucosal cell of rat small intestine]

In order to elucidate a possible relationship between (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase and intestinal absorption of actively transported monosaccharides enzyme activity was measured in mucosal cells from alloxan diabetic rats. The general effect of increasing capacity of active, Na+-dependent transport processes in diabetes mellitus is associated with a significantly enhanced (Na+ +K+)-activated ATPase activity in mucosal homogenate from diabetic animals. To study the localization of these effects within the cell we isolated purified brush borders and their substructures. To enable a comparison to be made between preparation procedures of diabetic and control animals the fractions were controlled by electronmicroscopy and by measuring the sucrase activity. In the purified brush border fraction of alloxan treated rats there was no significant increase in (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase activity. Based on these results we conclude that the (Na+ + K+)-activated ATPase in the basolateral membranes was increased in alloxan diabetes, and it seems very likely that this enzyme is involved in the regulation of Na+-dependent transport processes.     

Changes in osmotic water permeability of the eel gills during seawater and freshwater adaptation

Summary Changes in osmotic water permeability of the isolated gills of the Japanese eel,Anguilla japonica were studied during transfer to seawater or to fresh water. The water permeability increased gradually during the course of seawater transfer and attained a maximal level after 2 weeks. The water permeability of the freshwater eel gills was reduced when calcium ions were added to the incubation medium at a concentration of 1 mM, where-as no effect of the ion was observed on the gills of the seawater-adapted eel even at a higher concentration (10 mM). In contrast to seawater transfer, the water permeability decreased to a low level almost immediately (3 h) after transfer from seawater to fresh water. The acute reduction of the water permeability was also seen in the gills of the hypophysectomized eel after transfer to fresh water.The gradual increase in the gill water permeability during seawater transfer is correlated with an increase in the number of chloride cells. In scanning electron microscopy, chloride cells of seawater-adapted eel gills exhibit a pit-like structure, which was larger than in the freshwater eel. On transfer from seawater to fresh water, the pit diameter became smaller within 6 h. Hypophysectomy did not affect the change in gill surface structures during transfer to fresh water. The junctions between the chloride cells of seawater eel gills are reported to be of the leaky type. The parallel change in osmotic water permeability and in pit size of the chloride cells during seawater or freshwater transfer or after hypophysectomy suggests that these cells could provide a major route of water as well as ion movement.This paper is a portion of a thesis presented to Hokkaido University by t. Ogasawara in partial fulfilment of the requirements for Doctor of Fisheries     

Relative potency of three homologous natriuretic peptides (ANP, CNP and VNP) in eel osmoregulation

Evidence has accumulated that atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) plays important roles in sea-water adaptation in eels. However, the roles of the other two natriuretic peptides (CNP and VNP) in osmoregulation have not been examined yet. In the present study, the effects of homologous ANP, CNP and VNP were compared on plasma Na+ concentration (an indicator of plasma osmolality), hematocrit (an approximate indicator of blood volume) and drinking rate in freshwater- and seawater-adapted eels. In seawater eels, ANP and VNP, but not CNP, infused at 5 pmol/kg/min decreased plasma Na+ concentration and drinking rate and increased hematocrit. In freshwater eels, ANP and VNP failed to decrease plasma Na+ concentration but increased hematocrit to the same extent as in seawater eels. Inhibition of drinking was not detectable in freshwater eels because of little drinking before NP infusions. These results show that the effects of NPs on plasma Na+ concentration, drinking rate and hematocrit are mediated by NPR-A, since only ANP and VNP that bind with higher affinity to NPR-A are effective in seawater eels. The mechanisms of regulation of plasma Na+ concentration and hematocrit are unknown, but NPR-A is present in the responsible tissues for regulation of hematocrit in both freshwater and seawater eels. However, NPR-A may be absent in the tissues of freshwater eels that are responsible for regulation of plasma Na+ concentration.     

Partial purification of (Ca2+ + Mg2+)-dependent ATPase from pig smooth muscle and reconstitution of an ATP-dependent Ca2+-transport system.

(CaMg)ATPase [(Ca2+ + Mg2+)-dependent ATPase] was partially purified from a microsomal fraction of the smooth muscle of the pig stomach (antrum). Membranes were solubilized with deoxycholate, followed by removal of the detergent by dialysis. The purified (CaMg)ATPase has a specific activity (at 37 degrees C) of 157 +/- 12.1 (7)nmol.min-1.mg-1 of protein, and it is stimulated by calmodulin to 255 +/- 20.9 (7)nmol.min.mg-1. This purification of the (CaMg)ATPase resulted in an increase of the specific activity by approx. 18-fold and in a recovery of the total enzyme activity of 55% compared with the microsomal fraction. The partially purified (CaMg)ATPase still contains some Mg2+-and (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase activities, but their specific activities are increased relatively less than that of the (CaMg)ATPase. The ratios of the (CaMg)ATPase to Mg2+- and (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase activities increase from respectively 0.14 and 0.81 in the crude microsomal fraction to 1.39 and 9.07 in the purified preparation. During removal of the deoxycholate by dialysis, vesicles were reconstituted which were capable of ATP-dependent Ca2+ transport.     

The partial purification of sodium-plus-potassium ion-dependent adenosine triphosphatase from the gills of Anguilla anguilla and its inhibition by orthovanadate.

1. (Na+ +K+)-dependent ATPase was partially purified from eel gills by a procedure in which the microsomal fraction of crude preparations of chloride cells was selectively extracted with sodium dodecyl sulphate. 2. The microsomal specific activity was increased 2-fold during optimal treatment with detergent. 3. The final preparation (56% pure) had a specific activity of 341 mumol of ATP hydrolysed/h per mg of protein and a turnover number of 3560 min-1. The number of ouabain-binding sties equalled the number of sites phosphorylated by ATP. 4. Both sodium orthovanadate and ouabain inhibited the purified preparation more than the microsomal fraction, vanadate being more effective on an equimolar basis than ouabain. 5. Inhibition by orthovanadate was not enhanced at 28 mM-as compared with 1mM-MgCl2 and was not reversed by beta-adrenergic agonists (cf. Josephson & Cantley (1977) Biochemistry 16, 4572--4578). 6. Of various other metallic oxyanions tested only niobate proved an effective inhibitor of the enzyme although this anion was less effective than orthovanadate. 7. Orthovanadate partially inhibited phosphorylation of the enzyme by ATP in the presence of 28 mM-MgCl2.     

Intraspecific variation in gene expression after seawater transfer in gills of the euryhaline killifish Fundulus heteroclitus

Previous research has suggested that northern populations of the euryhaline killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) are better adapted to freshwater environments than their southern counterparts. In this study, we examined whether this adaptation has come at an ionoregulatory cost in seawater, by comparing published data for northern killifish to newly acquired data on the molecular responses of southern killifish to seawater transfer. After abrupt transfer from brackish water (10 per thousand) to seawater, Na,K-ATPase activity, Na,K-ATPase alpha(1a) mRNA expression, and NKCC1 mRNA expression increased 1 and 4 days after transfer in the gills of southern fish (by 2-3-fold), but increased at 1 day and not 4 days after transfer in northern fish. Small increases in mRNA expression were observed in both populations at 14 days. CFTR expression also increased in southern and northern fish at 1 and 4 days into seawater, and was also elevated at 14 days in northern fish. Because fish from both southern and northern populations maintained plasma Na(+) and Cl(-) balance after seawater transfer, the differences in activity and expression could not have been caused by differences in plasma ion levels. Instead, some other regulatory factor may account for the differences in expression between populations. This study shows that freshwater adaptation in northern populations of killifish has not necessarily come at a significant ionoregulatory cost in seawater, but has altered the molecular responses of their gills to seawater transfer compared to southern killifish.     

Odorous chemical perturbations of (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase activities. Effects on native and lipid-substituted preparations from individual turbinals from dog olfactory tissue.

Individual turbinals from the right and left sides of dog olfactory tissue were removed and nerve-ending-particle preparations were prepared. (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase activities of the individual preparations, and the effect of several odorous compounds [including (+)- and (-)-carvone] on the (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase activities, were determined. The maximally stimulatory odorant concentration in the reaction mixture for the majority of odorants was found to be 1.0 mM. Matched pairs of left/right turbinals showed a lack of bilateral symmetry of response. (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase activities of various dog brain nerve-ending particle preparations responded only slightly to 1.0 mM odorants. The role of phospholipids in the (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase activity was found to be critical. Partial replacement of endogenous lipid with either synthetic phospholipids or extracted lipids resulted in changes in stimulation obtained with endogenous lipids alone.     

A model for the reaction pathways of the K+-dependent phosphatase activity of the (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase

(Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase preparations from rat brain, dog kidney, and human red blood cells also catalyze a K+ -dependent phosphatase reaction. K+ activation and Na+ inhibition of this reaction are described quantitatively by a model featuring isomerization between E1 and E2 enzyme conformations with activity proportional to E2K concentration: (formula; see text) Differences between the three preparations in K0.5 for K+ activation can then be accounted for by differences in equilibria between E1K and E2K with dissociation constants identical. Similarly, reductions in K0.5 produced by dimethyl sulfoxide are attributable to shifts in equilibria toward E2 conformations. Na+ stimulation of K+ -dependent phosphatase activity of brain and red blood cell preparations, demonstrable with KCl under 1 mM, can be accounted for by including a supplementary pathway proportional to E1Na but dependent also on K+ activation through high-affinity sites. With inside-out red blood cell vesicles, K+ activation in the absence of Na+ is mediated through sites oriented toward the cytoplasm, while in the presence of Na+ high-affinity K+ -sites are oriented extracellularly, as are those of the (Na+ + K+)-dependent ATPase reaction. Dimethyl sulfoxide accentuated Na+ -stimulated K+ -dependent phosphatase activity in all three preparations, attributable to shifts from the E1P to E2P conformation, with the latter bearing the high-affinity, extracellularly oriented K+ -sites of the Na+ -stimulated pathway.