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Salinity-dependent changes in Na+/K+-ATPase content of mitochondria-rich cells contribute to differences in thermal tolerance of Mozambique tilapia

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Abstract

The Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) is prone to osmoregulatory disturbances when faced with fluctuating ambient temperatures. To investigate the underlying causes of this phenomenon, freshwater (FW)- and seawater (SW)-acclimated tilapia were transferred to 15, 25, or 35°C for 2 weeks, and along with typically used indicators of osmoregulatory status [plasma osmolality and branchial and intestinal specific Na+, K+-ATPase (NKA) activity], we used tissue microarrays (TMA) and laser-scanning cytometry (LSC) to characterize the effects of temperature acclimation. Tissue microarrays were stained with fluorescently labeled anti-Na+, K+-ATPase antibodies that allowed for the quantification of NKA abundance per unit area within individual branchial mitochondria-rich cells (MRCs) as well as sections of renal tissue. Mitochondria-rich cell counts and estimates of size were carried out for each treatment by the detection of DASPMI fluorescence. The combined analyses showed that SW fish have larger but fewer MRCs that contain more NKA per unit area. After a 2-week acclimation to 15°C tilapia experienced osmotic imbalances in both FW and SW that were likely due to low NKA activity. SW-acclimated fish compensated for the low activity by increasing MRC size and subsequently the concentration of NKA within MRCs. Although there were no signs of osmotic stress in FW-acclimated tilapia at 25°C, there was an increased NKA capacity that was most likely mediated by a higher MRC count. We conclude on the basis of the different responses to temperature acclimation that salinity-induced changes in the NKA concentration of MRCs alter thermal tolerance limits of tilapia.

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Abbreviations

TMA:

Tissue microarray

LSC:

Laser scanning cytometry

NKA:

Na+, K+-ATPase

MRC:

Mitochondria-rich Cell

DAPSMI:

Dimethylaminostyrylmethylpyridiniumiodide

g l−1 :

Grams per liter

°C:

Degrees celcius

FW:

Freshwater

SW:

Seawater

PI:

Propidium iodide

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Acknowledgments

There are several people we wish to thank for their support of this work directly or indirectly; including Peter Allen, Sally Mak, Paul Lutes, Stephanie Chan, and Christa Woodley of the University of California at Davis, as well as Jeff Richards, Rosalind Leggatt, and Patricia Schulte of the University of British Columbia. This work was supported by NSF grant IOB-0542755 to DK, as well as an NSERC Discovery Grant to CJB.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of British Columbia, 6270 University Blvd, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z4

    Brian A. Sardella & Colin J. Brauner

  2. Department of Animal Science, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Dietmar Kültz

  3. Department of Wildlife, Fish and Conservation Biology, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    Joseph J. Cech Jr

Authors
  1. Brian A. Sardella
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  2. Dietmar Kültz
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  3. Joseph J. Cech Jr
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  4. Colin J. Brauner
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Correspondence to Brian A. Sardella.

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Communicated by I.D. Hume.

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Sardella, B.A., Kültz, D., Cech, J.J. et al. Salinity-dependent changes in Na+/K+-ATPase content of mitochondria-rich cells contribute to differences in thermal tolerance of Mozambique tilapia. J Comp Physiol B 178, 249–256 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-007-0211-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-007-0211-2

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