Induction of ureogenesis in perfused liver of a freshwater teleost, Heteropneustes fossilis, infused with different concentrations of ammonium chloride

Hyper-ammonia stress causes induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase gene and more production of nitric oxide in air-breathing magur catfish, Clarias magur (Hamilton)

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signalling molecule that plays diverse physiological functions in several vertebrates including that of adaptation to various stressful stimuli. The air-breathing magur catfish (Clarias magur) is known to tolerate a very high external ammonia (HEA) stress in its natural habitats. We report here the possible induction of inducible nitric oxide (inos) gene and more generation of NO in magur catfish exposed to HEA. Exposure to HEA (25 mM NH₄Cl) for 14 days led to the higher accumulation of NO in different tissues of magur catfish and also more efflux of NO from the perfused liver of NH₄Cl-treated fish as a consequence of high build of toxic ammonia in body tissues. More synthesis and accumulation of NO in body tissues was associated with the induction of iNOS activity, which otherwise was not detectable in control fish. The stimulation of iNOS activity in HEA exposed fish was mainly due to induction of inos gene as evidenced by more expression of inos mRNA and also more abundance of iNOS protein in different tissues of magur catfish. Immunocytochemical analysis indicated the zonal specific expression of iNOS protein in different tissues of magur catfish. The augmentation of iNOS in the fish under HEA could be an adaptive strategy of the fish to defend against the ammonia stress through the generation of NO. Therefore, the present finding identifies the potential role of iNOS to enhance the adaptive capacity and survivability of catfish under various adverse environmental and pathological conditions that it faces in its natural habitats.

Induction of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase by Lipopolysaccharide and the Influences of Cell Volume Changes, Stress Hormones and Oxidative Stress on Nitric Oxide Efflux from the Perfused Liver of Air-Breathing Catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis

The air-breathing singhi catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) is frequently being challenged by bacterial contaminants, and different environmental insults like osmotic, hyper-ammonia, dehydration and oxidative stresses in its natural habitats throughout the year. The main objectives of the present investigation were to determine (a) the possible induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene with enhanced production of nitric oxide (NO) by intra-peritoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (a bacterial endotoxin), and (b) to determine the effects of hepatic cell volume changes due to anisotonicity or by infusion of certain metabolites, stress hormones and by induction of oxidative stress on production of NO from the iNOS-induced perfused liver of singhi catfish. Intra-peritoneal injection of LPS led to induction of iNOS gene and localized tissue specific expression of iNOS enzyme with more production and accumulation of NO in different tissues of singhi catfish. Further, changes of hydration status/cell volume, caused either by anisotonicity or by infusion of certain metabolites such as glutamine plus glycine and adenosine, affected the NO production from the perfused liver of iNOS-induced singhi catfish. In general, increase of hydration status/cell swelling due to hypotonicity caused decrease, and decrease of hydration status/cell shrinkage due to hypertonicity caused increase of NO efflux from the perfused liver, thus suggesting that changes in hydration status/cell volume of hepatic cells serve as a potent modulator for regulating the NO production. Significant increase of NO efflux from the perfused liver was also observed while infusing the liver with stress hormones like epinephrine and norepinephrine, accompanied with decrease of hydration status/cell volume of hepatic cells. Further, oxidative stress, caused due to infusion of t-butyl hydroperoxide and hydrogen peroxide separately, in the perfused liver of singhi catfish, resulted in significant increase of NO efflux accompanied with decrease of hydration status/cell volume of hepatic cells. However, the reasons for these cell volume-sensitive changes of NO efflux from the liver of singhi catfish are not fully understood with the available data. Nonetheless, enhanced or decreased production of NO from the perfused liver under osmotic stress, in presence of stress hormones and oxidative stress reflected its potential role in cellular homeostasis and also for better adaptations under environmental challenges. This is the first report of osmosensitive and oxidative stress-induced changes of NO production and efflux from the liver of any teleosts. Further, the level of expression of iNOS in this singhi catfish could also serve as an important indicator to determine the pathological status of the external environment.

Environmental hypertonicity causes induction of gluconeogenesis in the air-breathing singhi catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis

The air-breathing singhi catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) is frequently being challenged by different environmental insults such as hyper-ammonia, dehydration and osmotic stresses in their natural habitats throughout the year. The present study investigated the effect of hyperosmotic stress, due to exposure to hypertonic environment (300 mM mannitol) for 14 days, on gluconeogenesis in this catfish. In situ exposure to hypertonic environment led to significant stimulation of gluconeogenic fluxes from the perfused liver after 7 days of exposure, followed by further increase after 14 days in presence of three different potential gluconeogenic substrates (lactate, pyruvate and glutamate). Environmental hypertonicity also caused a significant increase of activities of key gluconeogenic enzymes, namely phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, fructose 1, 6-bisphosphatase and glucose 6-phosphatase by about 2-6 fold in liver, and 3-6 fold in kidney tissues. This was accompanied by more abundance of enzyme proteins by about 1.8–3.7 fold and mRNAs by about 2.2–5.2 fold in both the tissues with a maximum increase after 14 days of exposure. Hence, the increase in activities of key gluconeogenic enzymes under hypertonic stress appeared to be as a result of transcriptional regulation of genes. Immunocytochemical analysis further confirmed the tissue specific localized expression of these enzymes in both the tissues with the possibility of expressing more in the same localized places. The induction of gluconeogenesis during exposure to environmental hypertonicity possibly occurs as a consequence of changes in hydration status/cell volume of different cell types. Thus, these adaptational strategies related to gluconeogenesis that are observed in this catfish under hypertonic stress probably help in maintaining glucose homeostasis and also for a proper energy supply to support metabolic demands mainly for ion transport and other altered metabolic processes under various environmental hypertonic stress-related insults.

Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide production in the mud-dwelled air-breathing singhi catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis under condition of water shortage

Nitric oxide (NO) is known to be an important regulator molecule for regulating the multiple signaling pathways and also to play diverse physiological functions in mammals including that of adaptation to various stresses. The present study reports on the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) enzyme that produces NO from l-arginine in the freshwater air-breathing catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) while dwelling inside the mud peat under semidry conditions. Desiccation stress, due to mud-dwelling for 2 weeks, led to significant increase of NO concentration in different tissues and in plasma of singhi catfish, and also the increase of NO efflux from the perfused liver with an accompanying increase of toxic ammonia level in different tissues. Mud-dwelling also resulted to induction of iNOS activity, expression of iNOS protein in different tissues after 7 days with further increase after 14 days, which otherwise was not detectable in control fish. Further, mud-dwelling also resulted to a significant expression of iNOS mRNA after 7 days with a more increase of mRNA level after 14 days, suggesting that the desiccation stress caused transcriptional regulation of iNOS gene. Immunocytochemical analysis indicated the zonal specific expression of iNOS protein in different tissues. Desiccation stress also led to activation and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor кB (NFкB) in hepatic cells. These results suggest that the activation of iNOS gene under desiccation-induced stresses such as high ammonia load was probably mediated through the activation of one of the major transcription factors, the NFкB. This is the first report of desiccation-induced induction of iNOS gene, iNOS protein expression leading to more generation of NO while living inside the mud peat under condition of water shortage in any air-breathing teleosts.

Influence of environmental ammonia on the production of nitric oxide and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the freshwater air-breathing catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis)

Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly versatile and unique ubiquitous signaling molecule, and is known to play diverse physiological functions in mammals including those of adaptation to various stresses. The present study reports on the influence of exposure to high external ammonia (HEA) on the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), that produces NO from l-arginine in the freshwater air-breathing catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis), which is reported to tolerate a very HEA. Some levels of NO were found to be present in all the tissues and also in plasma of control fish, which further enhanced significantly in fishes treated with high concentrations of environmental ammonia (25 and 50 mM ammonium chloride) for 7 days, accompanied by more efflux of NO from the perfused liver. This was accomplished by the induction of iNOS activity in different tissues of fish exposed to HEA, which otherwise was not detectable in control fish. Exposure to 25 mM ammonium chloride also led to a significant expression of iNOS protein in different tissues, followed by further increase at 50mM ammonium chloride. Further, there was an increase in the expression of iNOS mRNA in ammonia-treated fish, thus suggesting that the expression of iNOS gene under hyper-ammonia stress was probably regulated at the transcriptional level. Immunocytochemical analysis indicated that the expression of iNOS in different tissues was zonal specific and not expressed uniformly throughout the organ. Hyper-ammonia stress also led to activation and nuclear translocation of nuclear factor κB (NFκB) in hepatic cells. These results suggest that the activation of iNOS gene under hyper-ammonia stress was probably mediated through the activation of one of the major transcription factors, the NFκB. This is the first report of ammonia-induced expression of iNOS gene, iNOS protein expression leading to more generation of NO under hyper-ammonia stress in any teleosts.

Influence of increased environmental water salinity on gluconeogenesis in the air-breathing walking catfish, Clarias batrachus

The present study was aimed at determining the effect of hypertonicity due to increased environmental water salinity on gluconeogenesis in air-breathing walking catfish (Clarias batrachus). In situ exposure to hypertonic saline solution (150 mM NaCl) led to a significant stimulation of glucose efflux due to gluconeogenesis from the liver after 7 days with further elevation after 14 days in the presence of each of the three potential gluconeogenic substrates (lactate, pyruvate, and glutamate). This was accompanied by significant increase of activities of three key gluconeogenic enzymes, namely phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), fructose 1,6-biphosphatase (FBPase), and glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase) in liver and kidney by about twofold to threefold. Environmental hypertonicity also led to a significant elevation in the levels of PEPCK, FBPase, and G6Pase enzyme proteins in both the tissues by about 2- to 2.75-fold, accompanied by a significant elevation in the level of PEPCK mRNA by about 2- to 2.5-fold after 7 days, and further enhancement to about 3.5- to 4-fold after 14 days. Thus, the upregulation of PEPCK, FBPase. and G6Pase activities appears to be a result of transcriptional regulation of these genes. The induction of gluconeogenesis under environmental hypertonicity, which this catfish faces regularly in its natural habitat, possibly occurs as a consequence of changes in hydration status/cell volume of different cell types. This would certainly assist in maintaining glucose homeostasis, and also for a proper energy supply to support metabolic demands for ion transport and other altered metabolic processes under various environmental hypertonic stress-related insults.

Influence of cell volume changes on protein synthesis in isolated hepatocytes of air-breathing walking catfish (Clarias batrachus)

The present study aimed at determining the effect of cell volume changes on protein synthesis, measured as the incorporation of [(3)H]leucine into acid-precipitable protein, in isolated hepatocytes of air-breathing walking catfish (Clarias batrachus). The rate of protein synthesis, which was recorded to be 10.02 +/- 0.10 (n = 25) nmoles mg(-1) cell protein h(-1) in isotonic incubation conditions, increased/decreased significantly by 18 and 48%, respectively, following hypo- (-80 mOsmol l(-1))/hypertonic (+80 mOsmol l(-1)) incubation conditions (adjusted with NaCl), with an accompanying increase/decrease of hepatic cell volume by 12 and 20%, respectively. Similar cell volume-sensitive changes of protein synthesis were also observed when the anisotonicity of incubation medium was adjusted with mannitol. Increase of hepatic cell volume by 9%, due to addition of glutamine plus glycine (5 mM each) to the isotonic control incubation medium, led to a significant increase of protein synthesis by 14%. Decrease of hepatic cell volume by 15 and 18%, due to addition of dibutyl-cAMP and adenosine in isotonic control incubation medium, led to a significant decrease of protein synthesis by 30 and 34%, respectively. Thus, it appears that the increase/decrease of hepatic cell volume, caused either by changing the extracellular osmolarity or by the presence of amino acids or certain other metabolites, leads to increase/decrease of protein synthesis, respectively, and shows a direct correction (r = 0.99) between the hepatic cell volume and protein synthesis in walking catfish. These cell volume-sensitive changes of protein synthesis probably help this walking catfish in fine tuning the different metabolic pathways for better adaptation during cell volume changes and also to avoid the adverse affects of osmotic stress. This is the first report of cell volume-sensitive changes of protein synthesis in hepatic cells of any teleosts.

Effects of anisotonicity on pentose-phosphate pathway, oxidized glutathione release and t-butylhydroperoxide-induced oxidative stress in the perfused liver of air-breathing catfish, Clarias batrachus

Both hypotonic exposure (185 mOsmol/l) and infusion of glutamine plus glycine (2 mmol/l each) along with the isotonic medium caused a significant increase of 14CO2 production from [1-14C]glucose by 110 and 70%, respectively, from the basal level of 18.4 +/- 1.2 nmol/g liver/min from the perfused liver of Clarias batrachus. Conversely, hypertonic exposure (345 mOsmol/l) caused significant decrease of 14CO2 production from [1-14C]glucose by 34%. 14CO2 production from [6-14C]glucose was largely unaffected by anisotonicity. The steady-state release of oxidized glutathione (GSSG) into bile was 1.18 +/- 0.09 nmol/g liver/min, which was reduced significantly by 36% and 34%, respectively, during hypotonic exposure and amino acid-induced cell swelling, and increased by 34% during hypertonic exposure. The effects of anisotonicity on 14CO2 production from [1-14C]glucose and biliary GSSG release were also observed in the presence of t-butylhydroperoxide (50 mmol/l). The oxidative stress-induced cell injury, caused due to infusion of t-butylhydroperoxide, was measured as the amount of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage into the effluent from the perfused liver; this was found to be affected by anisotonicity. Hypotonic exposure caused significant decrease of LDH release and hypertonic exposure caused significant increase of LDH release from the perfused liver. The data suggest that hypotonically-induced as well as amino acid-induced cell swelling stimulates flux through the pentose-phosphate pathway and decreases loss of GSSG under condition of mild oxidative stress; hypotonically swollen cells are less prone to hydroperoxide-induced LDH release than hypertonically shrunken cells, thus suggesting that cell swelling may exert beneficial effects during early stages of oxidative cell injury probably due to swelling-induced alterations in hepatic metabolism.

Influence of cell volume changes on autophagic proteolysis in the perfused liver of air-breathing walking catfish (Clarias batrachus)

Exposure of perfused liver of walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) to hypotonicity (-80 mOsmol/L) caused swelling of liver cells as evidenced by the increase in liver mass by 11.5%, and inhibition of [(3)H]leucine release (as a measure of proteolysis) by 37% from the radiolabeled perfused liver. Whereas, exposure of perfused liver to hypertonicity (+80 mOsmol/L) caused shrinkage of liver cells as evidenced by the decrease in liver mass by 10.4%, and stimulation of [(3)H]leucine release by 24%. Infusion of amino acids such as glutamine plus glycine (2 mM each) also caused increase in liver cell volume as evidenced by the increase in liver mass by 8.9%, and inhibition of [(3)H]leucine release by 29%. Adjustment of anisotonicity of the media without changing the NaCl concentration in the media had almost similar effects on proteolysis in the perfused liver. A direct correlation of cell volume changes or hydration status of liver cells with that of proteolysis was observed in the perfused liver regardless of whether the cell volume increase/decrease was evoked by anisotonic perfusion media or by the addition of amino acids. Thus, it appears that the increase/decrease in hepatic cell volume could be one of the important modulators for adjusting the autophagic proteolysis in walking catfish probably to avoid the adverse affects of osmotically induced cell volume changes, to preserve the hepatic cell function and for proper energy supply under osmotic stress. This is the first report of cell volume-sensitive changes of autophagic proteolysis in hepatic cells of any teleosts.

Cell volume regulation in the perfused liver of a freshwater air-breathing cat fish Clarias batrachus under aniso-osmotic conditions: roles of inorganic ions and taurine

The roles of various inorganic ions and taurine, an organic osmolyte, in cell volume regulation were investigated in the perfused liver of a freshwater air-breathing catfish Clarias batrachus under aniso-osmotic conditions. There was a transient increase and decrease of liver cell volume following hypotonic (-80 mOsmol/l) and hypertonic (+80 mOsmol/l) exposures,respectively, which gradually decreased/increased near to the control level due to release/uptake of water within a period of 25-30 min. Liver volume decrease was accompanied by enhanced efflux of K+ (9.45 +/- 0.54 micromol/g liver) due to activation of Ba(2+)- and quinidine-sensitive K(+) channel, and to a lesser extent due to enhanced efflux of Cl(-) (4.35+/- 0.25 micromol/g liver) and Na+ (3.68+/- 0.37 micromol/g liver). Conversely, upon hypertonic exposure, there was amiloride-and ouabain-sensitive uptake of K+ (9.78+/- 0.65 micromol/g liver), and also Cl(-) (3.72 +/- 0.25 micromol/g liver).The alkalization/acidification of the liver effluents under hypo-/hypertonicity was mainly due to movement of various ions during volume regulatory processes. Taurine,an important organic osmolyte, appears also to play a very important role in hepatocyte cell volume regulation in the walking catfish as evidenced by the fact that hypo- and hyper-osmolarity caused transient efflux (5.68 +/- 0.38 micromol/g liver) and uptake (6.38 +/- 0.45 micromol/g liver) of taurine, respectively. The taurine efflux was sensitive to 4,4' -di-isothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS, an anion channel blocker), but the uptake was insensitive to DIDS, thus indicating that the release and uptake of taurine during volume regulatory processes are unidirectional. Although the liver of walking catfish possesses the RVD and RVI mechanisms, it is to be noted that liver cells remain partly swollen and shrunken during anisotonic exposures,thereby possibly causing various volume-sensitive metabolic changes in the liver as reported earlier.

Expression of ornithine-urea cycle enzymes in early life stages of air-breathing walking catfish Clarias batrachus and induction of ureogenesis under hyper-ammonia stress

The air-breathing walking catfish Clarias batrachus is a potential ureogenic teleost with having a full complement of ornithine-urea cycle (OUC) enzymes expressed in various tissues. The present study was aimed at determining the pattern of nitrogenous waste excretion in the form of ammonia-N and urea-N along with the changes of tissue ammonia and urea levels, and the expression of OUC enzymes and glutamine synthetase (GSase) in early life stages of this teleost, and further, to study the possible induction of ureogenesis in 15-day old fry under hyper-ammonia stress. The ammonia and urea excretion was visible within 12 h post-fertilization (hpf), which increased several-fold until the yolk was completely absorbed by the embryo. Although all the early developing stages were primarily ammoniotelic, they also excreted significant amount of nitrogen (N) in the form of urea-N (about 35-40% of total N). Tissue levels of ammonia and urea also increased along with subsequent developmental stages at least until the yolk absorption stage. All the OUC enzymes and GSase were expressed within 4-12 hpf showing an increasing trend of activity for all the enzymes until 350 hpf. There was a significant increase of activity of GSase, carbamyl phosphate synthetase III (CPSase III) and argininosuccinate lyase enzymes (ASL), accompanied with significant increase of enzyme protein concentration of at least two enzymes (GSase and CPSase III) in the 15-day old fry following exposure to 10 mM NH4Cl as compared to respective controls kept in water over a period of 72 h. Thus, it appears that the OUC enzymes are expressed in early life stages of walking catfish like other teleosts, but at relatively high levels and remain expressed all through the life stages with a potential of stimulation of ureogenesis throughout the life cycle as a sort of physiological adaptation to survive and breed successfully under hyper-ammonia and various other environmental-related stresses.

Cell volume changes affect gluconeogenesis in the perfused liver of the catfish Clarias batrachus

In addition to lactate and pyruvate, some amino acids were found to serve as potential gluconeogenic substrates in the perfused liver of Clarias batrachus. Glutamate was found to be the most effective substrate, followed by lactate, pyruvate, serine, ornithine, proline, glutamine, glycine, and aspartate. Four gluconeogenic enzymes, namely phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), pyruvate carboxylase (PC), fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) and glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase) could be detected mainly in liver and kidney, suggesting that the latter are the two major organs responsible for gluconeogenic activity in this fish. Hypo-osmotically induced cell swelling caused a significant decrease of gluconeogenic efflux accompanied with significant decrease of activities of PEPCK, FBPase and G6Pase enzymes in the perfused liver. Opposing effects were seen in response to hyperosmotically induced cell shrinkage. These changes were partly blocked in the presence of cycloheximide, suggesting that the aniso-osmotic regulations of gluconeogenesis possibly occurs through an inverse regulation of enzyme proteins and/or a regulatory protein synthesis in this catfish. In conclusion, gluconeogenesis appears to play a vital role in C. batrachus in maintaining glucose homeostasis, which is influenced by cell volume changes possibly for proper energy supply under osmotic stress.

Role of ureogenesis in tackling problems of ammonia toxicity during exposure to higher ambient ammonia in the air-breathing walking catfishclarias batrachus

In the present study, the possible role of ureogenesis to avoid the accumulation of toxic ammonia to a lethal level under hyper-ammonia stress was tested in the air-breathing walking catfish Clarias batrachus by exposing the fish at 25 mM NH4Cl for 7 days. Excretion of ammonia by the NH4Cl-exposed fish was totally suppressed, which was accompanied by significant accumulation of ammonia in different body tissues. The walking catfish, which is otherwise predominantly ammoniotelic, turned totally towards ureotelism from ammoniotelism with a 5- to 6-fold increase of urea-N excretion during exposure to higher ambient ammonia. Stimulation of ureogenesis was accompanied with significant increase of some of the key urea cycle enzymes such as carbamyl phosphate synthetase (urea cycle-related), argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase both in hepatic and non-hepatic tissues. Due to this unique physiological strategy of turning towards ureotelism from ammoniotelism via the induced urea cycle, this air-breathing catfish is able to survive in very high ambient ammonia, which they face in certain seasons of the year in the natural habitat.

Role of amino acid metabolism in an air-breathing catfish, Clarias batrachus in response to exposure to a high concentration of exogenous ammonia

The air-breathing ureogenic walking catfish (Clarias batrachus) faces various environmental constraints throughout the year leading to the problem of accumulation of toxic ammonia. In the present study, the possible role of conversion of accumulated ammonia to various non-essential free amino acids (FAAs) was tested in this fish under hyper-ammonia stress caused by exposing the fish at 25 mM NH(4)Cl for 7 days. Significant accumulation of ammonia of approximately two- to threefold was observed in different tissues (except in the brain), which was accompanied with the significant accumulation of non-essential FAAs in the NH(4)Cl-exposed fish. There was approximately two- to threefold increase of non-essential FAAs in different tissues and in the plasma of the NH(4)Cl-exposed fish compared to the control fish after 7 days of exposure, which was mainly attributable to the increase of Asp, Ala, Gly, Glu, Gln and taurine (Tau) concentrations in general, with certain tissue-specific variations. This was also accompanied with significant increase of activity of certain amino acid metabolism-related enzymes such as the glutamine synthetase (approx. two- to threefold), glutamate dehydrogenase (ammonia utilizing direction) (approx. twofold), aspartate and alanine aminotransaminases (approx. twofold) mainly in the liver, kidney and muscle of the NH(4)Cl-exposed fish. Thus, it appears that the walking catfish has the capacity of active conversion of accumulated ammonia to non-essential FAAs under condition of high concentrations of external ammonia. However, the increase of urea excretion rate due to active conversion of ammonia to urea via the induced urea cycle appears to be quantitatively much more important pathway than the increase of tissue levels of FAAs in dealing with a severe ammonia load.

Glutamine synthetase expression in liver, muscle, stomach and intestine ofBostrichthys sinensisin response to exposure to a high exogenous ammonia concentration

A previous study provided evidence that the adaptive strategy used by the teleost fish Bostrichthys sinensis (sleeper) for detoxifying ammonia during extended periods of air exposure was to synthesize and store glutamine,primarily in the muscle, accompanied by an increase in glutamine synthetase(GSase) activity in liver. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect on GSase expression in various tissues of exposure of B. sinensis to exogenous ammonia. Exogenous ammonia increases internal ammonia concentrations in fish, mimicking environmental situations such as air exposure that preclude loss of ammonia across the gills, and thus triggering alternative mechanisms for ammonia detoxification. The results reveal relatively high levels of GSase activity, not only in liver but also,unexpectedly, in muscle, and even higher levels in intestine and, in particular, stomach. Exposure to ammonia results in significant increases in GSase activity, GSase protein and GSase mRNA levels in all of these tissues except stomach. The amino acid sequences of GSases from liver and stomach deduced from the cDNA sequences are essentially identical and are >97 %identical to the amino acid sequences of GSases from Gulf toadfish(Opsanus beta) and marble goby (Oxyeleotris marmoratus).

Effect of alkalinity (pH 10) on ureogenesis in the air-breathing walking catfish, Clarias batrachus

Exposure of fish to alkaline conditions inhibits the rate of ammonia excretion, leading to ammonia accumulation and toxicity. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of ureogenesis via the urea cycle, to avoid the accumulation of ammonia to a toxic level during chronic exposure to alkaline conditions, for the air-breathing walking catfish, Clarias batrachus, where a full complement of urea cycle enzyme activity has been documented. The walking catfish can survive in water with a pH up to 10. At a pH of 10 the ammonia excretion rate by the walking catfish decreased by approximately 75% within 6 h. Although there was a gradual improvement of ammonia excretion rate by the alkaline-exposed fish, the rate remained 50% lower, even after 7 days. This decrease of ammonia excretion was accompanied by a significant accumulation of ammonia in plasma and body tissues (except in the brain). Urea-N excretion for alkaline-exposed fish increased 2.5-fold within the first day, which was maintained until day 3 and was then followed by a slight decrease to maintain a 2-fold increase in the urea-N excretion rate, even after 7 days. There was also a higher accumulation of urea in plasma and other body tissues (liver, kidney, muscle and brain). The activity of glutamine synthetase and three enzymes operating in the urea cycle (carbamyl phosphate synthetase, argininosuccinate synthetase, argininosuccinate lyase) increased significantly in hepatic and extra-hepatic tissue, such as the kidney and muscle in C. batrachus, during exposure to alkaline water. A significant increase in plasma lactate concentration noticed during alkaline exposure possibly helped in the maintenance of the acid-base balance. It is apparent that the stimulation of ureogenesis via the induced urea cycle is one of the major physiological strategies adopted by the walking catfish (C. batrachus) during chronic exposure to alkaline water, to avoid the in vivo accumulation of ammonia to a toxic level in body tissues and for the maintenance of pH homeostasis.

Role of ureogenesis in the mud-dwelled Singhi catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis) under condition of water shortage

The air-breathing Singhi catfish Heteropneustes fossilis was kept inside moist peat for 1 month mimicking their normal habitat in summer and the role of ureogenesis for their survival in a water-restricted condition was studied. The ammonia excretion rate by the mud-dwelled fish increased transiently between 6 and 12 h of re-immersion in water to approximately between eight and 10-fold, followed by a sharp decrease almost to the normal level at the later part of re-immersion. The urea-N excretion by the mud-dwelled fish increased to approximately 11-fold within 0-3 h of re-immersion, followed by a gradual decrease from 9 h onwards. The rate of urea-N excretion by the mud-dwelled fish, however, remained significantly higher (approx. threefold more) than the control fish even after 36-48 h of re-immersion. Although there was a significant increase of both ammonia and urea levels in the plasma and other tissues (except ammonia in the brain), the level of accumulation of urea was higher than ammonia in the mud-dwelled fish as indicated by the decrease in the ratio of ammonia: urea level in different tissues including the plasma. The activities (units/g tissue and /mg protein) of glutamine synthetase and three enzymes of the urea cycle, carbamyl phosphate synthetase, argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinate lyase increased significantly in most of the tissues (except the brain) of the mud-dwelled fish as compared to the control fish. Higher accumulation of ammonia in vivo in the mud-dwelled Singhi catfish is suggested to be one of the major factors contributing to stimulation of ureogenesis. Due to this physiological adaptive strategy of ureogenesis, possibly along with other physiological adaptation(s), this air-breathing amphibious Singhi catfish is able to survive inside the moist peat for months in a water-restricted condition.

Changes in free amino acid synthesis in the perfused liver of an air-breathing walking catfish, Clarias batrachus infused with ammonium chloride: a strategy to adapt under hyperammonia stress

The changes in the free amino acid (FAA) levels, the rate of efflux of FAAs from the perfused liver, and the activity of some enzymes related to amino acid metabolism such as glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH, both reductive amination and oxidative deamination), glutamine synthetase (GS), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were studied in the liver of a freshwater air-breathing teleost, the walking catfish, Clarias batrachus, perfused with 5 and 10 mM NH(4)Cl. The level of the various non-essential FAAs increased significantly, with a total increase of about 150%, which was accompanied by a significant increase of both ammonia and urea-N in the perfused liver both with 5 and 10 mM NH(4)Cl. The rate of efflux of these non-essential FAAs from the perfused liver also increased significantly with a total increase of about 115% and 160% at 5 and 10 mM NH(4)Cl, respectively. The activity of the mentioned amino acid metabolism-related enzymes in the perfused liver also got stimulated, except for GDH in the ammonia forming direction and ALT, under a higher ammonia load. The activity (both tissue and specific) of GDH in the glutamate forming direction increased maximally, followed by AST and GS in a decreasing order. Owing to these physiological adaptive strategies related to amino acid metabolism along with the presence of a functional and regulatory urea cycle (reported earlier), it is believed that this catfish is able to survive in very high ambient ammonia or in the air or in the mud during habitat drying.