Contractile properties of the elasmobranch rectal gland

Autonomic control of glands and secretion: a comparative view

The autonomic nervous system together with circulating and local hormones control secretion from glands. This article summarizes histochemical and functional studies on the autonomic innervation and control of secretory glands in non-mammalian vertebrates, including secretion of saliva in the mouth and gastric acid in the stomach, secretion of enzymes and bicarbonate from the pancreas and gut wall, secretion of mucus in the gut epithelium and onto the skin, and salt secretion from salt glands and rectal glands. Cholinergic and adrenergic nerves, directly or indirectly, in combination with different types of peptidergic and other nerves appear to innervate gland tissues and affect secretion in all investigated species.

Autonomic control of the urogenital tract

The urogenital tract houses many of the organs that play a major role in homeostasis, in particular those that control water and salt balance, and reproductive function. This review focuses on the anatomical and functional innervation of the kidneys, urinary ducts and bladders of the urinary system, and the gonads, gonadal ducts, and intromittent organs of the reproductive tract. The literature, especially in recent years, is overwhelmingly skewed toward the situation in mammals. Nevertheless, where specific neurochemical markers have been investigated, common patterns of innervation can be found in representatives from most vertebrate classes. Not surprisingly the vasculature, epithelia and smooth muscle of all urogenital organs receives adrenergic innervation. These nerves may contain non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) neurotransmitters such as ATP and NPY. Cholinergic nerves increase motility in most urogenital organs with the exception of the kidney. The major NANC nerves found to influence urogenital organs include those containing VIP/PACAP, galanin and neuronal nitric oxide synthase. These can be found associated with both smooth muscle and epithelia. The role these nerves play, and the circumstances where they are activated are for the most part unknown.

Morphology of the rectal gland of the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) shark in response to feeding

The morphology of the rectal gland was examined in spiny dogfish ( Squalus acanthias L, 1758) sharks fasted (1 week) or 6 and 20 h postfeeding. The morphology of the fasted gland showed a pattern reflecting a dormant physiology, with thick gland capsule, thick stratified epithelium, and secretory parenchyma with tubules of small diameter and lumen. The secretory cells of the tubular epithelium were enlarged and irregularly shaped with abnormally condensed or highly vacuolized cytoplasm containing numerous lysosomes. Early-stage apoptotic cells were not uncommon. Secretory cells showed signs of low activity, e.g., mitochondria with weakly stained matrix and small cristae, poorly branched infoldings of basolateral membranes, and microvesicle-free subapical cytoplasm. All characteristics examined changed significantly upon feeding, consistent with increased salt and fluid secretion: the outer capsule muscle layer and the stratified epithelium decreased in diameter; the tubules enlarged; the secretory cells showed extensive development of the basolateral membrane, more mitochondria, and abundant apical microvesicles. Secretory cell apical surface was increased. The minor differences between morphology in 6 and 20 h postfeeding indicated that changes took place rapidly and were complete by 6 h. Our results are discussed in the context of prior studies of metabolism, proteomics, and cellular pathways of gland activation.

Natural feeding influences protein expression in the dogfish shark rectal gland: A proteomic analysis

The rectal gland is the principal salt-secreting organ in elasmobranchs, yet its functional response to normal physiological variation (e.g., due to feeding, stress) has only recently been examined. To complement studies on acid-base, digestive, and osmoregulatory physiology in response to natural feeding, we investigated protein-level responses in the rectal gland of spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) 6 h, 20 h, and 5 days (reference control) after a meal. Our objective was to identify proteins involved in regulation of osmoregulatory and metabolic processes in response to feeding. Proteins were separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and protein spots that were significantly up- or down-regulated >2 fold (i.e., abundance increased more than 100% or decreased more than 50%) were detected using gel image analysis software. Of 684 proteins analyzed on 2D gels, 16 proteins changed significantly 6 h after feeding vs. 5 day controls (5 decreased; 11 increased), and 12 proteins changed >2 fold 20 h after feeding vs. 5 day controls (2 decreased; 10 increased). Thirteen of these proteins were identified using mass spectrometry and classified into functional pathways using the PANTHER bioinformatics database. Rectal gland proteins that were regulated following feeding fell into three main categories: cytoskeletal/muscular (e.g., tropomyosin alpha chain, transgelin), energy metabolism (e.g., malate dehydrogenase, ATP synthase), and nucleotide metabolism (nucleoside diphosphate kinase). The data also revealed that previously documented increases in the activity of isocitrate dehydrogenase after feeding are at least partially due to increased abundance of a cytosolic, NADP-dependent isoform of this enzyme. One of the primary components of the rectal gland's response to feeding appears to be maintenance of the cellular supply of energy, which would be necessary to fuel increased activities of enzymes involved in salt secretion and oxidative metabolism in the rectal gland following a meal.

Extremely high conservation in the untranslated region as well as the coding region of CNP mRNAs throughout elasmobranch species

C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is a crucial osmoregulatory hormone in elasmobranchs, participating in salt secretion and drinking. In contrast to teleosts and tetrapods in which the NP family is composed of a group of structurally related peptides, we have shown that CNP is the sole NP in sharks. In the present study, CNP cDNAs were cloned from four species of batoids, another group of elasmobranchs. The cloned batoid CNP precursors contained a plausible mature peptide of 22 amino acid residues that is identical to most shark CNP-22s, but five successive amino acids were consistently deleted in the prosegment compared with shark precursors, supporting the diphyletic classification of sharks and rays. In addition, molecular phylogenetic trees of CNP precursors were consistent with a diphyletic interpretation. Except for the deletion, the nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of the CNP cDNAs are extremely well-conserved among all elasmobranch species, even between sharks and rays. Surprisingly, high conservation is evident not only for the coding region, but also for the untranslated regions. It is most likely that the high conservation is due to the low nucleotide substitution rate in the elasmobranch genome, and high selection pressure. The 3'-untranslated region of the elasmobranch CNP cDNAs contained three to six repeats of the ATTTA motif that is associated with the regulation of mRNA stability and translation efficiency. Alternative polyadenylation sites were also found; the long 3'-untranslated region contains a core of ATTTA motifs while the short form has only one or no ATTTA motif, indicating that the post-transcriptional modification of mRNA is important for regulation of CNP synthesis. These characteristics in the 3'-untranslated region were conserved among all elasmobranch CNP cDNAs. Since CNP has been implicated as a fast-acting hormone to facilitate salt secretion from the rectal gland, the conserved 3'-untranslated region most likely contributes to rapid regulation of CNP synthesis in elasmobranchs in response to acute changes in internal and external environments.

Endothelin B receptor Ca2+ signaling in shark vascular smooth muscle: participation of inositol trisphosphate and ryanodine receptors

In mammals, endothelin receptors are sub-classified into ET(A) receptors (ET(A)R), which are purely constrictive in vascular smooth muscle (VSM), and ET(B)R, which may produce constriction in VSM or dilatation by stimulating the production of nitric oxide (NO) from endothelial cells. In contrast, previous studies suggested that shark VSM is stimulated exclusively by ET(B)R. The Ca(2+) signaling pathways utilized by shark VSM in response to stimulation by endothelin-1 (ET-1) have not previously been investigated. We measured cytosolic Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in fura-2-loaded VSM of anterior mesenteric artery of Squalus acanthias and show that the ET(B)R agonists IRL 1620 and sarafotoxin S6c (SRX) increase [Ca(2+)](i) in VSM to the same extent as ET-1 and ET(B)R appears to be the only ETR subtype in sharks. To investigate the participation of the inositol trisphosphate (IP(3)) receptors (IP(3)R), we utilized two inhibitors of the mammalian IP(3)R, TMB-8 and 2-APB. In Ca(2+)-free Ringer, these agents inhibit the response to ET(B)R agonist stimulation by 71%. The ryanodine-sensitive receptor (RyR) may be activated by low concentrations of ryanodine, by abrupt local increases of [Ca(2+)](i), (calcium-induced calcium release) or by cyclic adeninediphosphate ribose (cADPR). We employed three inhibitors of activation of the RyR, Ruthenium Red, 8-Br cADPR and high concentrations of ryanodine; these agents blocked the [Ca(2+)](i) response to ET(B)R agonist stimulation by a mean of 39%. These data show for the first time that in VSM of the shark, ET(B)R activation stimulates both IP(3)R and RyR, and that cADPR is involved in RyR activation.

A Ca2+-sensing receptor modulates shark rectal gland function

The elasmobranch Squalus acanthias controls plasma osmolality and extracellular fluid volume by secreting a hypertonic fluid from its rectal gland. Because we found a correlation between extracellular Ca2+concentration and changes in cytosolic Ca2+([Ca2+]i), we sought the possible presence of a calcium-sensing receptor in rectal gland artery and tubules. Cytosolic Ca2+ of both tissues responded to the addition of external Ca2+ (0.8-5.3 mmol l-1) in a linear fashion. Spermine,Gd3+ and Ni2+, known agonists of the calcium-sensing receptor, increased [Ca2+]i. To assess the participation of inositol triphosphate (IP3) generation, sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum (SR/ER) Ca2+ depletion, and activation of store-operated Ca2+ entry, we utilized thapsigargin and ryanodine to deplete Ca2+ SR/ER stores and the inhibitory reagents TMB-8 and 2-APB to block IP3 receptors. In each case, these agents inhibited the[Ca2+]i response to agonist stimulation by approximately 50 %. Blockade of L-channels with nifedipine had no significant effect. Increases in ionic strength are known to inhibit the calcium-sensing receptor. We postulate that the CaSR stimulates Ca2+-mediated constriction of the rectal gland artery and diminishes cyclic AMP-mediated salt secretion in rectal gland tubules during non-feeding conditions. When the shark ingests sea water and fish, an increase in blood and interstitial fluid ionic strength inhibits the activity of the calcium-sensing receptor, relaxing the rectal gland artery and permitting salt secretion by the rectal gland tubules.