Molecular and functional regionalization of bicarbonate secretion cascade in the intestine of the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Molecular mechanisms underlying guanylin-induced transcellular Cl- secretion into the intestinal lumen of seawater-acclimated eels

Guanylin (GN) stimulates Cl^- secretion into the intestinal lumen of seawater-acclimated eels, but the molecular mechanisms of transepithelial Cl^- transport are still unknown. In Ussing chamber experiments, we confirmed that mucosal application of eel GN reversed intestinal serosa-negative potential difference, indicating Cl^- secretion. Serosal application of DNDS or mucosal application of DPC inhibited the GN effect, but serosal application of bumetanide had no effect. Removal of HCO₃^- from the serosal fluid also inhibited the GN effect. In intestinal sac experiments, mucosal GN stimulated luminal secretion of both Cl^- and Na⁺, which was blocked by serosal DNDS. These results suggest that Cl^- is taken up at the serosal side by DNDS-sensitive anion exchanger (AE) coupled with Na⁺-HCO₃^- cotransporter (NBC) but not by Na⁺-K⁺-2Cl^- cotransporter 1 (NKCC1), and Cl^- is secreted by unknown DPC-sensitive Cl^- channel (ClC) at the mucosal side. The transcriptomic analysis combined with qPCR showed low expression of NKCC1 gene and no upregulation of the gene after seawater transfer, while high expression of ClC2 gene and upregulation after seawater transfer. In addition, SO₄^2- transporters (apical Slc26a3/6 and basolateral Slc26a1) are also candidates for transcellular Cl^- secretion in exchange of luminal SO₄². Na⁺ secretion could occur through a paracellular route, as Na⁺-leaky claudin15 was highly expressed and upregulated after seawater transfer. High local Na⁺ concentration in the lateral interspace produced by Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase (NKA) coupled with K⁺ channels (Kir5.1b) seems to facilitate the paracellular transport. In situ hybridization confirmed the expression of the candidate genes in the epithelial enterocytes. Together with our previous results, we suggest that GN stimulates basolateral NBCela/AE2 and apical ClC2 to increase transcellular Cl^- secretion in seawater eel intestine, which differs from the involvement of apical CFTR and basolateral NKCC1 as suggested in mammals and other teleosts.

Expression and Function of ABC Proteins in Fish Intestine

In fish, the intestine is fundamental for digestion, nutrient absorption, and other functions like osmoregulation, acid-base balance, and excretion of some metabolic products. These functions require a large exchange surface area, which, in turn, favors the absorption of natural and anthropogenic foreign substances (xenobiotics) either dissolved in water or contained in the food. According to their chemical nature, nutrients, ions, and water may cross the intestine epithelium cells' apical and basolateral membranes by passive diffusion or through a wide array of transport proteins and also through endocytosis and exocytosis. In the same way, xenobiotics can cross this barrier by passive diffusion or taking advantage of proteins that transport physiological substrates. The entry of toxic substances is counterbalanced by an active efflux transport mediated by diverse membrane proteins, including the ATP binding cassette (ABC) proteins. Recent advances in structure, molecular properties, and functional studies have shed light on the importance of these proteins in cellular and organismal homeostasis. There is abundant literature on mammalian ABC proteins, while the studies on ABC functions in fish have mainly focused on the liver and, to a minor degree, on the kidney and other organs. Despite their critical importance in normal physiology and as a barrier to prevent xenobiotics incorporation, fish intestine's ABC transporters have received much less attention. All the ABC subfamilies are present in the fish intestine, although their functionality is still scarcely studied. For example, there are few studies of ABC-mediated transport made with polarized intestinal preparations. Thus, only a few works discriminate apical from basolateral transport activity. We briefly describe the main functions of each ABC subfamily reported for mammals and other fish organs to help understand their roles in the fish intestine. Our study considers immunohistochemical, histological, biochemical, molecular, physiological, and toxicological aspects of fish intestinal ABC proteins. We focus on the most extensively studied fish ABC proteins (subfamilies ABCB, ABCC, and ABCG), considering their apical or basolateral location and distribution along the intestine. We also discuss the implication of fish intestinal ABC proteins in the transport of physiological substrates and aquatic pollutants, such as pesticides, cyanotoxins, metals, hydrocarbons, and pharmaceutical products.

Tissue and salinity specific Na+/Cl- cotransporter (NCC) orthologues involved in the adaptive osmoregulation of sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus)

Two orthologues of the gene encoding the Na⁺-Cl⁻ cotransporter (NCC), termed ncca and nccb, were found in the sea lamprey genome. No gene encoding the Na⁺-K⁺-2Cl⁻ cotransporter 2 (nkcc2) was identified. In a phylogenetic comparison among other vertebrate NCC and NKCC sequences, the sea lamprey NCCs occupied basal positions within the NCC clades. In freshwater, ncca mRNA was found only in the gill and nccb only in the intestine, whereas both were found in the kidney. Intestinal nccb mRNA levels increased during late metamorphosis coincident with salinity tolerance. Acclimation to seawater increased nccb mRNA levels in the intestine and kidney. Electrophysiological analysis of intestinal tissue ex vivo showed this tissue was anion absorptive. After seawater acclimation, the proximal intestine became less anion absorptive, whereas the distal intestine remained unchanged. Luminal application of indapamide (an NCC inhibitor) resulted in 73% and 30% inhibition of short-circuit current (I_sc) in the proximal and distal intestine, respectively. Luminal application of bumetanide (an NKCC inhibitor) did not affect intestinal I_sc. Indapamide also inhibited intestinal water absorption. Our results indicate that NCCb is likely the key ion cotransport protein for ion uptake by the lamprey intestine that facilitates water absorption in seawater. As such, the preparatory increases in intestinal nccb mRNA levels during metamorphosis of sea lamprey are likely critical to development of whole animal salinity tolerance.

Osmoregulatory Plasticity of Juvenile Greater Amberjack (Seriola dumerili) to Environmental Salinity

Osmotic costs in teleosts are highly variable, reaching up to 50% of energy expenditure in some. In several species, environmental salinities close to the isosmotic point (~15 psu) minimize energy demand for osmoregulation while enhancing growth. The present study aimed to characterize the physiological status related to osmoregulation in early juveniles of the greater amberjack, Seriola dumerili, acclimated to three salinities (15, 22, and 36 psu). Our results indicate that plasma metabolic substrates were enhanced at the lower salinities, whereas hepatic carbohydrate and energetic lipid substrates decreased. Moreover, osmoregulatory parameters, such as osmolality, muscle water content, gill and intestine Na+-K+-ATPase activities, suggested a great osmoregulatory capacity in this species. Remarkably, electrophysiological parameters, such as short-circuit current (Isc) and transepithelial electric resistance (TER), were enhanced significantly at the posterior intestine. Concomitantly, Isc and TER anterior-to-posterior intestine differences were intensified with increasing environmental salinity. Furthermore, the expression of several adeno-hypophyseal genes was assessed. Expression of prl showed an inverse linear relationship with increasing environmental salinity, while gh mRNA enhanced significantly in the 22 psu-acclimated groups. Overall, these results could explain the better growth observed in S. dumerili juveniles kept at salinities close to isosmotic rather than in seawater.

Analysis of Host Jejunum Transcriptome and Associated Microbial Community Structure Variation in Young Calves with Feed-Induced Acidosis

Diet-induced acidosis imposes a health risk to young calves. In this study, we aimed to investigate the host jejunum transcriptome changes, along with its microbial community variations, using our established model of feed-induced ruminal acidosis in young calves. Eight bull calves were randomly assigned to two diet treatments beginning at birth (a starch-rich diet, Aci; a control diet, Con). Whole-transcriptome RNA sequencing was performed on the jejunum tissues collected at 17 weeks of age. Ribosomal RNA reads were used for studying microbial community structure variations in the jejunum. A total of 853 differentially expressed genes were identified (402 upregulated and 451 downregulated) between the two groups. The cell cycle and the digestion and absorption of protein in jejunal tissue were affected by acidosis. Compared to the control, genera of Campylobacter, Burkholderia, Acidaminococcus, Corynebacterium, and Olsenella significantly increased in abundance in the Aci group, while Lachnoclostridium and Ruminococcus were significantly lower in the Aci group. Expression changes in the AXL gene were associated with the abundance variations of a high number of genera in jejunum. Our study provided a snapshot of the transcriptome changes in the jejunum and its associated meta-transcriptome changes in microbial communities in young calves with feed-induced acidosis.

Ocean acidification compromises energy management in Sparus aurata (Pisces: Teleostei)

The effects of ocean acidification mediated by an increase in water pCO₂ levels on marine organisms are currently under debate. Elevated CO₂ concentrations in the seawater induce several physiological responses in teleost fish, including acid-base imbalances and osmoregulatory changes. However, the consequences of CO₂ levels enhancement on energy metabolism are mostly unknown. Here we show that 5 weeks of exposure to hypercapnia (950 and 1800 μatm CO₂) altered intermediary metabolism of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) compared to fish acclimated to current ocean values (440 μatm CO₂). We found that seabream compromises its physiological acid-base balance with increasing water CO₂ levels and the subsequent acidification. Intestinal regions (anterior, mid, and rectum) engaged in maintaining this balance are thus altered, as seen for Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase and the vacuolar-type H⁺-ATPase activities. Moreover, liver and muscle counteracted these effects by increasing catabolic routes e.g., glycogenolysis, glycolysis, amino acid turnover, and lipid catabolism, and plasma energy metabolites were altered. Our results demonstrate how a relatively short period of 5 weeks of water hypercapnia is likely to disrupt the acid-base balance, osmoregulatory capacity and intermediary metabolism in S. aurata. However, long-term studies are necessary to fully understand the consequences of ocean acidification on growth and other energy-demanding activities, such as reproduction.

Osmoregulatory actions of prolactin in the gastrointestinal tract of fishes

In fishes, prolactin (Prl) signaling underlies the homeostatic regulation of hydromineral balance by controlling essential solute and water transporting functions performed by the gill, gastrointestinal tract, kidney, urinary bladder, and integument. Comparative studies spanning over 60 years have firmly established that Prl promotes physiological activities that enable euryhaline and stenohaline teleosts to reside in freshwater environments; nonetheless, the specific molecular and cellular targets of Prl in ion- and water-transporting tissues are still being resolved. In this short review, we discuss how particular targets of Prl (e.g., ion cotransporters, tight-junction proteins, and ion pumps) confer adaptive functions to the esophagus and intestine. Additionally, in some instances, Prl promotes histological and functional transformations within esophageal and intestinal epithelia by regulating cell proliferation. Collectively, the demonstrated actions of Prl in the gastrointestinal tract of teleosts indicate that Prl operates to promote phenotypes supportive of freshwater acclimation and to inhibit phenotypes associated with seawater acclimation. We conclude our review by underscoring that future investigations are warranted to determine how growth hormone/Prl-family signaling evolved in basal fishes to support the gastrointestinal processes underlying hydromineral balance.

Slc4 Gene Family in Spotted Sea Bass (Lateolabrax maculatus): Structure, Evolution, and Expression Profiling in Response to Alkalinity Stress and Salinity Changes

The solute carrier 4 (SLC4) family is a class of cell membranes transporters involved in base transport that plays crucial roles in diverse physiological processes. In our study, 15 slc4 genes were identified and annotated in spotted sea bass, including five members of Cl⁻/HCO₃⁻ exchangers, eight genes coding Na⁺-dependent HCO₃⁻ transporters, and two copies of Na⁺-coupled borate transporters. The gene sequence and structure, chromosomal and syntenic arrangement, phylogenetic and evolution profiles were analyzed. Results showed that the slc4 gene in teleosts obviously expanded compared with higher vertebrates, arising from teleost-specific whole genome duplication event. Most gene sites of slc4 in spotted sea bass were under strong purifying selection during evolution, while positive selection sites were only detected in slc4a1b, slc4a8, and slc4a10b. Additionally, qRT-PCR results showed that different slc4 genes exhibited distinct branchial expression patterns after alkalinity and salinity stresses, of which the strongly responsive members may play essential roles during these physiological processes. Our study provides the systemic overview of the slc4 gene family in spotted sea bass and enables a better understanding for the evolution of this family and further deciphering the biological roles in maintaining ion and acid–base homeostasis in teleosts.

The teleost fish intestine is a major oxalate-secreting epithelium

Oxalate is a common constituent of kidney stones, but the mechanism of its transport across epithelia is not well understood. With prior research on the role of the intestine focused on mammals, the present study considered oxalate handling by teleost fish. Given the osmotic challenge of seawater (SW), marine teleosts have limited scope for urinary oxalate excretion relative to freshwater (FW) taxa. The marine teleost intestine was hypothesized as the principal route for oxalate elimination, thus demanding epithelial secretion. To test this, intestinal 14C-oxalate flux was compared between FW- and SW-acclimated sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna). In SW, oxalate was secreted at remarkable rates (367.90±22.95 pmol cm-2 h-1), which were similar following FW transfer (387.59±27.82 pmol cm-2 h-1), implying no regulation by salinity. Nevertheless, this ability to secrete oxalate at rates 15-19 times higher than the mammalian small intestine supports this proposal of the teleost gut as a major, previously unrecognized excretory pathway.

Inter-individual variability in freshwater tolerance is related to transcript level differences in gill and posterior kidney of European sea bass

Acclimation to low salinities is a vital physiological challenge for euryhaline fish as the European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax. This species undertakes seasonal migrations towards lagoons and estuaries where a wide range of salinity variations occur along the year. We have previously reported intraspecific differences in freshwater tolerance, with an average 30% mortality rate. In this study, we bring new evidence of mechanisms underlying freshwater tolerance in sea bass at gill and kidney levels. In fresh water (FW), intraspecific differences in mRNA expression levels of several ion transporters and prolactin receptors were measured. We showed that the branchial Cl^-/HCO₃^- anion transporter (slc26a6c) was over-expressed in freshwater intolerant fish, probably as a compensatory response to low blood chloride levels and potential metabolic alkalosis. Moreover, prolactin receptor a (prlra) and Na⁺/Cl^- cotransporter (ncc1) but not ncc-2a expression seemed to be slightly increased and highly variable between individuals in freshwater intolerant fish. In the posterior kidney, freshwater intolerant fish exhibited differential expression levels of slc26 anion transporters and Na⁺/K⁺/2Cl^- cotransporter 1b (nkcc1b). Lower expression levels of prolactin receptors (prlra, prlrb) were measured in posterior kidney which probably contributes to the failure in ion reuptake at the kidney level. Freshwater intolerance seems to be a consequence of renal failure of ion reabsorption, which is not sufficiently compensated at the branchial level.