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Influence of ionic composition on acid-base regulation in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to environmental hypercapnia

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Abstract

The influence of ambient calcium, bicarbonate and chloride levels on acid-base regulation was investigated in rainbow trout acclimated and exposed to hypercapnia in five different water types. In soft water (low [Ca++] and [HCO3 −]), compensation of the respiratory acidosis was slow and incomplete within 72h. High ambient [HCO3 −] clearly improved extracellular HCO3 − accumulation, and pH recovery was accomplished within 24h. This may result from stimulation of branchial HCO3 − (influx)/Cl− (outflux) exchange. Elevation of ambient [Cl−] had a small, positive effect on pH compensation. High ambient [Ca++] improved the degree of pH compensation. Plasma [HCO3 −] and [Cl−] showed an inverse 1:1 relationship in all acclimation groups, revealing an ubiquitous chloride-mediated acid-base regulation. Ventilation activity was increased by hypercapnia and only returned to control values in hard water (high [HCO3 −]and [Ca++]). During progressive hypercapnia (up to 3% CO2), hard water acclimated fish obtained significantly higher plasma [HC03 −] (51.2 mM) than fish acclimated to low [Ca++]/high [HCO3 −] (44.7 mM). This suggests an additive effect of ambient Ca++ on plasma HCO3 − accumulation. At levels of CO2 above 1%, some mortality was induced in low [Ca++]/high [HCO3 −] water. Dying fish could be distinguished from surviving fish by an excessive Cl−loss and increasing extracellular anion gap.

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  1. Institute of Biology, Odense University, DK-5230, Odense M, Denmark

    B. K. Larsen & F. B. Jensen

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  1. B. K. Larsen
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  2. F. B. Jensen
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Larsen, B.K., Jensen, F.B. Influence of ionic composition on acid-base regulation in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed to environmental hypercapnia. Fish Physiol Biochem 16, 157–170 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00004672

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