Sensitivity of Na+/K+-ATPase isoforms to acid and aluminum explains differential effects on Atlantic salmon osmoregulation in fresh water and seawater

Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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Abstract

Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) smolts are sensitive to acid rain and associated increases in dissolved inorganic aluminum (Al) resulting in decreased seawater tolerance at this critical life stage. Salmon have two major isoforms of the catalytic alpha subunit of Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA), with NKAα1a being the major freshwater (FW) isoform and NKAα1b the major seawater (SW) isoform. Here we evaluate physiological markers of SW preparedness and NKAα1a and NKAα1b isoforms after short-term exposure to acidified water and acidified water with added Al (acid–Al). Atlantic salmon smolts were exposed to low ion FW (Control), low ion acidic water (pH 5.2; acid), and low ion acidic water (pH 5.2) with moderate levels of added inorganic Al (35 μg·L−1; acid–Al) for 4 days. Acid exposure resulted in loss of salinity tolerance (higher plasma chloride (Cl) after SW exposure) and significantly decreased the levels of gill NKAα1b but not NKAα1a protein abundance. Acid–Al exposure resulted in loss of plasma Cl in FW and higher plasma Cl in SW and decreased NKAα1a and NKAα1b abundance. The loss of salinity tolerance in smolts can be explained by the differential sensitivity of NKA isoforms to acid.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Sensitivity of Na+/K+-ATPase isoforms to acid and aluminum explains differential effects on Atlantic salmon osmoregulation in fresh water and seawater
Series title Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
DOI 10.1139/cjfas-2017-0198
Volume 75
Issue 8
Year Published 2018
Language English
Publisher Canadian Science Publishing
Contributing office(s) Leetown Science Center
Description 20 p.
First page 1319
Last page 1328
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