Adaptive branchial mechanisms in the sturgeon Acipenser naccarii during acclimation to saltwater

Variations of Na +/K +-ATPase activity and fatty-acid composition in the gills of the sturgeon Acipenser naccarii subjected to progressive acclimation to full seawater (35 ppt) were determined in relation to the hypo-osmoregulatory capacity of this species in the hyperosmotic medium. Blood samples w...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part A, Molecular & integrative physiology Molecular & integrative physiology, 2005-06, Vol.141 (2), p.183-190
Main Authors: Martínez-Álvarez, Rosa M., Sanz, Ana, García-Gallego, Manuel, Domezain, Alberto, Domezain, Julio, Carmona, Ramón, del Valle Ostos-Garrido, M., Morales, Amalia E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acclimatization - physiology
Acipenser naccarii
Animals
Chloride cells
Fatty Acids - metabolism
Fatty-acid composition
Fishes - blood
Fishes - physiology
Fresh Water
Gill
Gills - physiology
Gills - ultrastructure
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Na +/K +-ATPase
Osmolar Concentration
Osmoregulation
Seawater
Seawater acclimation
Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase - physiology
Ultrastructure
Water-Electrolyte Balance - physiology
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Summary:Variations of Na +/K +-ATPase activity and fatty-acid composition in the gills of the sturgeon Acipenser naccarii subjected to progressive acclimation to full seawater (35 ppt) were determined in relation to the hypo-osmoregulatory capacity of this species in the hyperosmotic medium. Blood samples were taken and gills arches were removed at intermediate salinity levels between 0 and 35 ppt and after 20 days at constant salinity (35 ppt). Plasma osmolality and Na +/K +-ATPase activity increased significantly with growing environmental salinity. Total saturated fatty acids (SFAs) decreased, while total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) increased significantly with increasing salinity due mainly to changes in n − 3 PUFAs (20:5 n − 3 and 22:6 n − 3). The n − 3 / n − 6 ratio increased significantly during the acclimation process. The results show a direct relationship between salinity, increased gill Na +/K +-ATPase activity and ultrastructural changes of the gill chloride cells. Changes in the fatty-acid composition in gills of A. naccarii during progressive acclimation to full seawater suggest that variations of gill fatty acids may also have a role in osmoregulatory mechanisms.
ISSN:1095-6433
1531-4332
DOI:10.1016/j.cbpb.2005.05.003