Gill morphometry and fish osmoregulation

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (12) ◽  
pp. 3055-3063 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Laurent ◽  
Nadra Hebibi

Morphofunctional parameters were studied during adaptation of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to different ionic environments: Strasbourg tap water, ion-poor water, and artificial seawater. The gill lamellae displayed large changes in size. Surface area of individual lamellae increased in trout acclimated to ion-poor water or seawater. Conversely, the harmonic mean thickness of the lamellar epithelium decreased in seawater, and to an even greater extent in ion-poor water. The apical surface area of individual branchial filament chloride cells, the number of these cells, and their apical surface density per unit of filament epithelial surface area were calculated in these three conditions. These variables did not differ significantly in Strasbourg tap water or seawater, but increased greatly in ion-poor water. These results are discussed in relation to gill permeability and ionic regulation in fish.


2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre Laurent ◽  
Michael P Wilkie ◽  
Claudine Chevalier ◽  
Chris M Wood

Exposure of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to alkaline water (pH 9.5) impairs ammonia excretion (JAmm) and gill-mediated ion-exchange processes, as characterized by decreased Cl- (JC1in) and Na+ influx (JNain) across the gill. Scanning electron microscopy suggested that the depression of JC1in was concomitant with an early decrease in the population of the most active chloride cells (CCs), partly compensated for by an increasing number of immature CCs. However, within 72 h after the onset of exposure to alkaline water, there was a 2-fold increase in the fractional apical surface area of CCs that paralleled complete recovery of the maximal Cl- influx rate (JC1max). These results suggest that recovery of JC1max was associated with greater CC surface area, resulting in more transport sites on the gill epithelium. Morphometric analysis of the outermost layer of pavement cells on the lamellar epithelium showed a greater density of microvilli during exposure to alkaline water, which may have contributed to partial restoration of the number of Na+ transport sites (JNamax). Finally, the blood-to-water gill-diffusion distance decreased by 27% after 72 h at pH 9.5, and likely contributed to progressive restoration of ammonia excretion in alkaline water.



1989 ◽  
Vol 147 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
STEVE F. PERRY ◽  
PIERRE LAURENT

1. Whole-body ionic fluxes and gill chloride cell (CC) morphology were monitored in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) exposed acutely or chronically to natural fresh water (NFW; [Na+]=0.120 mmoll−1; [Cr]=0.164 mmoll−1) or artificially prepared fresh water with reduced [NaCl] (AFW; [Na+]=0.017 mmoll−1; [CT]=0.014 mmoll−1). 2. Net fluxes of Na+ (JnetNa) and Cl− (JnetCl) became extremely negative (indicating net NaCl loss to the environment) upon immediate exposure to AFW exclusively as a result of reduced NaCl influx (JinNa and JinNa). JnetNa and JnetCl were gradually restored to control rates during prolonged (30 days) exposure to AFW. 3. The restoration of JnetCl in AFW was due both to increased JinCl and to reduced Cl− efflux (JoutCl) whereas the primary response contributing to the restoration of JnetNa a t was an increase of JNain. 4. The total apical surface area of branchial CCs exposed to the external environment increased markedly after 24 h in AFW and remained elevated for 1 month as a consequence of enlargement of individual CCs and, to a lesser extent, increased CC density. JinNa and JinNa were correlated significantly with total CC apical surface area. 5. Plasma cortisol levels rose transiently in fish exposed to AFW. Treatment of NFW-adapted fish with cortisol for 10 days (a protocol known to cause CC proliferation) caused pronounced increases in JinCl and JinNa, as measured in both NFW and AFW. 6. These results suggest that an important adaptational response of rainbow trout to low environmental [NaCl] is cortisol-mediated enlargement of branchial epithelial CCs which, in turn, enhances the NaCl-transporting capacity of the gill as a result of the proliferation of Na+ and Cl− transport sites.



1991 ◽  
Vol 48 (10) ◽  
pp. 2028-2033 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Freda ◽  
D. A. Sanchez ◽  
H. L. Bergman

The objective of this study was to investigate possible sites for Na+ loss in fish exposed to low environmental pH. In rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to pH 4.0 for 1 h, a net loss of Na+ was stimulated, and changes in gill structure occurred. In addition to epithelial lifting and necrosis in the gills of acid-exposed fish, tight junctions between pavement epithelial cells and chloride cells decreased in length by 25% whereas tight junctions between adjacent pavement cells did not significantly change. In a second experiment where fish were moved from pH 4.0 or 3.5 water to pH 6.5 water, we observed that Na+ loss declined immediately and approached control levels. The reversible nature of the stimulation of Na+ loss indicates that the site of Na+ loss in the fish gill can be reversibly opened and closed, which is consistent with the known properties of tight junctions. We hypothesize that the opening of tight junctions contributes to the loss of plasma electrolytes at low environmental pH. However, the relative magnitude of electrolyte loss through the tight junctions remains unknown.



1994 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 536-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rod W. Wilson ◽  
Harold L. Bergman ◽  
Chris M. Wood

Juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, 5–13 g) were chronically exposed to sublethal Al (38 μg∙L−1) in acidified soft water (Na+ = 85, Ca2+ = 28 μEq∙L−1, pH 5.2–5.4) for 36 d. Acclimation (increased resistance to challenge with 162 μg Al∙L−1 Al at pH 5.2) occurred after 5 d and was associated with a fourfold increase in gill mucous cell density and reduction in apparent lamellar surface area; initially elevated blood–water diffusion distances returned to normal after 34 d, but the reduction in apparent surface area persisted. Chronic exposure to acid alone (pH 5.2, same water chemistry) caused no morphometric changes but resulted in persistent impairment of Ucrit (critical aerobic swimming speed) by about 10%. This was due to increased oxygen requirements at subcritical swimming speeds (loading stress) and was alleviated when trout were swum at pH 6.5 (zero Al) on day 36. In trout preexposed to sublethal Al, Ucrit was chronically impaired by approximately 16% due to loading stresses and reduction in the maximum rate of oxygen uptake, Mo2max (limiting stress); Ucrit and Mo2max remained depressed even when fish were swum at pH 6.5 (zero Al). Reduced gill area compromises the aerobic scope for activity but may be an unavoidable cost of acclimation to Al.



1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (8) ◽  
pp. 1395-1402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawn D. Bindon ◽  
James C. Fenwick ◽  
Steve F. Perry

The effects of branchial chloride cell proliferation on ion transport capability and gill morphometry were evaluated in the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, to test the hypothesis that chloride cell (CC) proliferation benefits ionic regulation at the expense of efficient gas transfer. The extent of hormone-induced CC proliferation (using ovine growth hormone (oGH), cortisol, or a combination of both) on the gill filament epithelium was assessed by determining the fractional surface area of exposed cells using scanning electron microscopy. Cortisol and oGH were equally effective in increasing CC fractional surface area (~2×), owing to the enlargement of individual CCs. The combined cortisol/oGH treatment resulted in an even greater increase in CC fractional area (~6×), as both the size and number of CCs increased. Sham injections were without effect on CC surface area or number. Significant increases in Na+ (Jin Na+) and Cl− uptake (Jin Cl−) were observed after all hormone treatments and were correlated positively with the increases in the CC fractional surface area. These findings support the view that CC proliferation enhances branchial ion transport capability. Lamellar epithelial thickness (measured by transmission electron microscopy) was increased in hormone-treated fish, while lamellar surface area (measured using light microscopy) was unaffected. The area of the interlamellar water channels (calculated from light micrographs) was significantly reduced in hormone-treated fish. These results suggest that, in trout, a compromise is made between the efficiency of ion regulation and gas transfer in which the enlargement/proliferation of CCs may impede gas transfer.



1993 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 198-209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Céline Audet ◽  
Chris M. Wood

Changes in branchial morphology and in plasma Cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline were quantified throughout an 81 -d exposure of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to sublethal acidity (pH 4.8) in artificial soft water and after a 5-h acid challenge (pH 4.0) of naive fish and 81-d acid-preexposed fish. Changes in branchial morphology at pH 4.8 were generally very mild and characterized by slight increases in filamental mucous cells and decreases in lamellar mucous cells. Chloride cell numbers and branchial Na+–K+- and total ATPase activities did not change. The filamental epithelium thickened, but the water–blood diffusion distance in the lamellae decreased during chronic exposure. Cortisol was significantly elevated throughout whereas catecholamines exhibited relatively little response. Response to acute pH 4.0 challenge was similar in naive and 81-d acid-exposed fish: epithelial damage, increase in visible mucous cells, loss of chloride cells by necrosis, and high cortisol levels but no changes in lamellar or filamental epithelial thickness, diffusion distance, ATPase activities, or catecholamine levels. Previously reported physiological data from these same trout demonstrated that sensitization rather than acclimation had occurred. Therefore, these observations support the view that acclimation does not occur in the absence of significant branchial damage and repair.



PLoS ONE ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (12) ◽  
pp. e0243462
Author(s):  
Sonja Fiedler ◽  
Hannah Wünnemann ◽  
Isabel Hofmann ◽  
Natalie Theobalt ◽  
Annette Feuchtinger ◽  
...  

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) are frequently used as experimental animals in ecotoxicological studies, in which they are experimentally exposed to defined concentrations of test substances, such as heavy metals, pesticides, or pharmaceuticals. Following exposure to a broad variety of aquatic pollutants, early morphologically detectable toxic effects often manifest in alterations of the gills. Suitable methods for an accurate and unbiased quantitative characterization of the type and the extent of morphological gill alterations are therefore essential prerequisites for recognition, objective evaluation and comparison of the severity of gill lesions. The aim of the present guidelines is to provide practicable, standardized and detailed protocols for the application of unbiased quantitative stereological analyses of relevant morphological parameters of the gills of rainbow trout. These gill parameters inter alia include the total volume of the primary and secondary gill lamellae, the surface area of the secondary gill lamellae epithelium (i.e., the respiratory surface) and the thickness of the diffusion barrier. The featured protocols are adapted to fish of frequently used body size classes (300–2000 g). They include well-established, conventional sampling methods, probes and test systems for unbiased quantitative stereological analyses of light- and electron microscopic 2-D gill sections, as well as the application of modern 3-D light sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) of optically cleared gill samples as an innovative, fast and efficient quantitative morphological analysis approach. The methods shown here provide a basis for standardized and representative state-of-the-art quantitative morphological analyses of trout gills, ensuring the unbiasedness and reproducibility, as well as the intra- and inter-study comparability of analyses results. Their broad implementation will therefore significantly contribute to the reliable identification of no observed effect concentration (NOEC) limits in ecotoxicological studies and, moreover, to limit the number of experimental animals by reduction of unnecessary repetition of experiments.



1994 ◽  
Vol 275 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Lumsden ◽  
H. W. Ferguson ◽  
V. E. Ostland ◽  
P. J. Byrne


1993 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
pp. 988-995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nils Petter Berg Justesen ◽  
Torbjørn Dall-Larsen ◽  
Leiv Klungsøyr

Particulate preparations from freshwater rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) gill homogenates contain an active magnesium ion activated ATPase that transports protons into the vesicles. Oligomycin at a concentration of 20 μg∙mL−1 had little effect on the proton transport, which was completely inhibited by N-ethylmaleimide. This inhibition was partly counteracted by dithiothreitol. Proton transport in freshwater trout gill submitochondrial particles was completely inhibited by oligomycin. When freshwater trout were kept for 40 min in water equilibrated with air containing 5% carbon dioxide, their gill lamellar epithelium contained many cells densely covered with erect microvilli. After changing to water bubbled with room air, the cells rapidly lost their microvilli. Control fish that were killed immediately after removal from the storage tank also had microvilli, but less erect and fewer in number. Labelled latex microspheres and dextran were used as markers for external medium uptake into gill epithelial cells. The fish were pretreated by bubbling the water by air containing 5% carbon dioxide, and the uptake took place when the water was bubbled with room air.



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