PUBLICATION

In Vivo Functional Assay in Fish Gills: Exploring Branchial Acid-Excreting Mechanisms in Zebrafish

Authors
Shih, S.W., Yan, J.J., Tsou, Y.L., Lu, S.W., Wang, M.C., Chou, M.Y., Hwang, P.P.
ID
ZDB-PUB-220424-20
Date
2022
Source
International Journal of Molecular Sciences   23(8): (Journal)
Registered Authors
Chou, Ming-Yi, Hwang, Pung Pung
Keywords
H+ excretion, adult gills, in vivo functional assay, scanning ion-selective electrode technique, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Acclimatization/physiology
  • Acids/pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Gills*/metabolism
  • Proton-Translocating ATPases/metabolism
  • Sodium-Hydrogen Exchangers/metabolism
  • Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase/metabolism
  • Zebrafish*/metabolism
PubMed
35457237 Full text @ Int. J. Mol. Sci.
Abstract
Molecular and physiological analyses in ionoregulatory organs (e.g., adult gills and embryonic skin) are essential for studying fish ion regulation. Recent progress in the molecular physiology of fish ion regulation was mostly obtained in embryonic skin; however, studies of ion regulation in adult gills are still elusive and limited because there are no direct methods for in vivo functional assays in the gills. The present study applied the scanning ion-selective electrode technique (SIET) in adult gills to investigate branchial H+-excreting functions in vivo. We removed the opercula from zebrafish and then performed long-term acid acclimation experiments. The results of Western blot and immunofluorescence showed that the protein expression of H+-ATPase (HA) and the number of H+-ATPase-rich ionocytes were increased under acidic situations. The SIET results proved that the H+ excretion capacity is indeed enhanced in the gills acclimated to acidic water. In addition, both HA and Na+/H+ exchanger (Nhe) inhibitors suppressed the branchial H+ excretion capacity, suggesting that H+ is excreted in association with HA and Nhe in zebrafish gills. These results demonstrate that SIET is effective for in vivo detection in fish gills, representing a breakthrough approach for studying the molecular physiology of fish ion regulation.
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