Op-Ed Acta Physiologica: A new model for sodium uptake in the zebrafish gill
Abstract
Aim: To determine whether Na+ uptake in adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to acidic water adheres to traditional models reliant on Na+/H+ Exchangers (NHEs), Na+ channels and Na+/Cl− Cotransporters (NCCs) or if it occurs through a novel mechanism.
Methods: Zebrafish were exposed to control (pH 8.0) or acidic (pH 4.0) water for 0-12 hours during which 22Na+ uptake (𝐽Nain), ammonia excretion, net acidic equivalent flux and net K+ flux (𝐽Hnet) were measured. The involvement of NHEs, Na+ channels, NCCs, K+-channels and K+-dependent Na+/Ca2+ exchangers (NCKXs) was evaluated by exposure to Cl−-free or elevated [K+] water, or to pharmacological inhibitors. The presence of NCKXs in gill was examined using RT-PCR.
Results: 𝐽Nain was strongly attenuated by acid exposure, but gradually recovered to control rates. The systematic elimination of each of the traditional models led us to consider K+ as a counter substrate for Na+ uptake during acid exposure. Indeed, elevated environmental [K+] inhibited 𝐽Nain during acid exposure in a concentration-dependent manner, with near-complete inhibition at 10 mM. Moreover, 𝐽Hnet loss increased approximately fourfold at 8-10 hours of acid exposure which correlated with recovered 𝐽Nain in 1:1 fashion, and both 𝐽Nain and 𝐽Hnet were sensitive to tetraethylammonium (TEA) during acid exposure. Zebrafish gills expressed mRNA coding for six NCKX isoforms.
Conclusions: During acid exposure, zebrafish engage a novel Na+ uptake mechanism that utilizes the outwardly directed K+ gradient as a counter-substrate for Na+ and is sensitive to TEA. NKCXs are promising candidates to mediate this K+-dependent Na+ uptake, opening new research avenues about Na+ uptake in zebrafish and other acid-tolerant aquatic species.