Angiotensin II modulates the activity of the Na+/K+ATPase in eel kidney

Effects of Doenjang, a Traditional Korean Soybean Paste, with High-Salt Diet on Blood Pressure in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Fermented foods in Korea contain a lot of salt. Although salt is reported to exacerbate health trouble, fermented foods have beneficial effects. We hypothesized that doenjang could reduce blood pressure in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats fed a high-salt diet. Eighteen SD rats were divided into three groups: normal-salt (NS) group, high-salt (HS) group, and high-salt with doenjang (HSD) group. The salinity of doenjang and saltwater was adjusted to 8% using Mohr's method. Blood pressure was significantly reduced in the HSD group compared with the HS group. Water intake and urine excretion volume has significantly increased in the HS group compared with the HSD group. The excreted concentrations of urine sodium, urine potassium, and feces potassium significantly increased in the HSD group compared with the HS and NS groups. Renin level was significantly decreased in the HSD group compared to the other groups. These results indicate that eating traditional salty fermented food is not a direct cause of hypertension, and the intake of doenjang in normal healthy animals improved blood pressure.

Flexible selection of diversified Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase α-subunit isoforms for osmoregulation in teleosts

BACKGROUND AND METHODS

Multiple Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) α-subunit isoforms express differentially in response to salinity transfer in teleosts but we observed that the isoform nomenclature is inconsistent with the phylogenetic relationship of NKA α-genes. We cloned the catalytic NKA α-subunit isoforms in eels and medaka, analyzed the time course of their expressions in osmoregulatory tissues after transfer from freshwater (FW) to seawater (SW), and performed phylogenetic analyses to deduce an evolutionary scenario that illustrates how various duplication events have led to the current genomic arrangement of NKA α-genes in teleosts.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Five and six α-subunits were cloned in eels and medaka respectively. In eels, the commonly-reported α1a and α1b isoforms were absent while the α1c isoform was diversified instead (α1c-1, α1c-2, α1c-3, α2, and α3 in eels). Phylogenetic estimation indicated that the α1a and α1b isoforms from salmon, tilapia, and medaka were generated by independent duplication events and thus they are paralogous isoforms. Re-examination of expression changes of known isoforms after salinity challenge revealed that the isoforms selected as predominant SW-types varied among teleost lineages. Diversification of α1 isoforms occurred by various types of gene duplication, or by alternative transcription among tandem genes to form chimeric transcripts, but there is no trend for more α1 copies in euryhaline species. Our data suggest that the isoform switching between FW (α1a predominates) and SW (α1b predominates) that occurs in salmonids is not universal in teleosts. Instead, in eels, α1c-1 was the major α-subunit upregulated gill, intestine, and kidney in SW. Localization of both NKA mRNA and protein showed consistent upregulation in gill and intestine in SW eels, but not in renal distal and collecting tubules, where low transcript expression levels were accompanied by high protein levels, suggesting a tissue-specific translational regulation that determines and fine-tunes the NKA expression. In medaka, α1b was upregulated in SW in anterior intestine while most other α-subunit isoforms were less responsive to salinity changes.

CONCLUSION

By integrating gene expression and phylogenetic results, we propose that the major NKA α-subunits for SW acclimation were not ancestrally selected, but rather were flexibly determined in lineage-specific fashion in teleosts.

Changes in plasma angiotensin subtypes in Japanese eel acclimated to various salinities from deionized water to double-strength seawater

Our knowledge of complexity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has grown in recent years and various angiotensin peptides including Ang II, Ang III, Ang IV, and Ang (1-7) were found to have specific functions. Using a combination of HPLC and radioimmunoassay (RIA), we established a high resolution method to quantify various angiotensin subtypes in the plasma of eel acclimated to deionized water (dW), freshwater (FW), seawater (SW), and double-strength seawater (DSW). [Asn(1), Val(5)]-Ang II, [Asp(1), Val(5)]-Ang II, [Val(4)]-Ang III, and [Val(3)]-Ang IV are all present in the circulation and both Ang II subtypes were significantly higher in DSW eel. When the eel was transferred from FW to SW, plasma immunoreactive (ir) Ang II concentration increased and its levels were highly correlated to plasma osmolality, suggesting that the elevated plasma osmolality is the major stimulus for activating the RAS during high salinity transfer. To examine the conversion of [Asn(1)] to [Asp(1)] residue in vivo and in vitro, synthetic [Asn(1), Val(5)]-Ang II was injected into the circulation or incubated with plasma, but the production of [Asp(1), Val(5)]-Ang II was insignificant, which implies that the conversion may occur at the angiotensinogen level. An asparaginase assay was further developed for measuring asparaginase activity and the highest activity was in liver in both FW and SW eel. This new method of analysis can be extended to study the endogenous angiotensin ligands in the local RAS. The potential significance of [Asn(1)] to [Asp(1)] conversion on Ang II metabolism and function is discussed.

Spatial, cellular, and intracellular localization of Na+/K+-ATPase in the sterically disposed renal tubules of Japanese eel

The kidney plays a crucial role in the regulation of water and ion balances in both freshwater and seawater fishes. However, the complicated structures of the kidney hamper comprehensive understanding of renal functions. In this study, to investigate the structure of sterically disposed renal tubules, we examined spatial, cellular, and intracellular localization of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase in the kidney of the Japanese eel. The renal tubule was composed of the first (PT-I) and second (PT-II) segments of the proximal tubule and the distal tubule (DT), followed by the collecting ducts (CDs). Light microscopic immunocytochemistry detected Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase along the renal tubules and CD; however, the subcellular distribution of the Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase immunoreaction varied among different segments. Electron microscopic immunocytochemistry further revealed that Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase was distributed on the basal infoldings of PT-I, PT-II, and DT cells. Three-dimensional analyses showed that the renal tubules meandered in a random pattern through lymphoid tissues, and then merged into the CD, which was aligned linearly. Among the different segments, the DT and CD cells showed more-intense Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase immunoreaction in freshwater eel than in seawater-acclimated eel, confirming that the DT and CD segments are important in freshwater adaptation, or hyperosmoregulation.

Differential status of the renin-angiotensin system of silver sea bream (Sparus sarba) in different salinities

Silver sea bream (Sparus sarba) is extremely euryhaline and can survive in a wide range of salinities (0-70 per thousand). The status of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in sea bream adapted to different salinities was studied. As indicated by plasma Ang II levels, a suppressed status of the RAS was found to occur under brackish water conditions; while under hypersaline conditions, an activated RAS prevailed, especially in fish adapted to double strength seawater (70 per thousand). Captopril successfully blocked the conversion of Ang I to Ang II, causing a dramatic drop in plasma Ang II levels, and such decrease was accompanied by lowered plasma cortisol levels. The pattern of changes in branchial Na-K-ATPase activity in different salinities was similar to those of plasma Ang II and cortisol, suggesting a causal regulatory role of Ang II on branchial Na-K-ATPase activity. Intraperitoneal injection of Ang II elicited a dose-dependent increase in branchial Na-K-ATPase activity in both 33- and 6 per thousand-adapted sea bream, but a relatively more intense stimulation of enzyme activity occurred in hyposmotic-adapted fish. Abrupt hyposmotic transfer rapidly lowered plasma Ang II level but elevated branchial Na-K-ATPase and transiently elevated plasma cortisol, indicating that these parameters are not solely controlled by Ang II but are also influenced by other hormonal factors that change during salinity transfer. Blood volumes of both 33- and 6 per thousand-adapted sea bream exhibited high stability during short-term salinity transfers and after long-term salinity adaptation. Captopril significantly reduced resting blood pressure in both 33- and 6 per thousand-adapted sea bream, indicating that the RAS was involved in maintenance of resting blood pressure in both hyperosmotic and hyposmotic environments. Blood pressure was highly stable during abrupt salinity transfer and captopril blockade did not alter such stability. The vasopressive effect of angiotensins was more potent in 6 per thousand-adapted sea bream. These results showed that the RAS is involved in the maintenance of fluid and pressure homeostasis in sea bream and hyposmotic-adapted sea bream has an abated RAS status.

Effect of blood withdrawal and angiotensin II on prolactin release in the tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus

Repeated blood withdrawal (5% of estimated blood volume at 0, 1, 4, 8, 24, 48 and 76 h) from tilapia acclimated to fresh water (FW) resulted in a marked increase in plasma levels of prolactin (PRL) during the first 8 h, reaching a peak above 300 ng/ml after 4 h. The increase in plasma PRL levels was significant except for the level after 72 h. A slight but significant decrease in plasma osmolality was observed at all time points after the blood withdrawal. Repeated blood withdrawal from fish acclimated to seawater (SW) resulted in a marked increase in plasma osmolality after 4 and 8 h. A significant increase was observed in plasma growth hormone (GH) in the fish in SW until the end of the experiment, but there was no change in plasma PRL. Plasma levels of cortisol were significantly higher in the fish in SW than in those in FW during the first 24 h. Blood withdrawal resulted in a significant reduction in hematocrit values in both FW- and SW-adapted fish, suggesting hemodilution. In a separate experiment, a single blood withdrawal (20% of total blood) stimulated drinking after 5 h, regardless of whether the fish were held in FW or SW. Plasma PRL level was also elevated following a single blood withdrawal in the fish acclimated to FW, but not in the fish in SW. Intraperitoneal injection of ANG II (1.0 microg/g) into the fish in FW significantly increased plasma PRL levels after 1 h. Activation of the renin-angiotensin system after blood withdrawal and the dipsogenic action of angiotensin II (ANG II) are well established in fish. The reduction in plasma osmolality after repeated blood withdrawal in FW and the increased osmolality in SW suggest that blood volume is restored, at least in part, by drinking environmental water. These results suggest that the marked increase in PRL concentration after blood withdrawal from the fish in FW is due, at least in part, to a facilitative effect between ANG II and reduced plasma osmolality.

Regulation of Na+/K+-ATPase activity by nitric oxide in the kidney and gill of the brown trout (Salmo trutta)

In teleost fish, successful osmoregulation involves controlled ion transport mechanisms in kidney and gill epithelia. In this study, the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase was investigated in vitro in these two tissues in brown trout (Salmo trutta) acclimated to freshwater. The NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) inhibited in situ Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity, measured as ouabain-sensitive Rb(+) uptake, in both samples of kidney and gill tissue and in isolated gill cells. The effect was dose-dependent in both tissues, with a maximal observed inhibition of approximately 40-50% (1 mmol l (-1) SNP). The time-course of inhibition revealed a maximum effect with 10 min pre-incubation. The effect of SNP was reproduced with another NO donor, papa-nonoate (NOC-15; 200 micro mol l(-1)), and was prevented by the NO scavenger 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide (PTIO; 1 mmol l(-1)). To further investigate the mechanism of the NO effect, whole-tissue Na(+) and K(+) levels were analysed. In kidney, SNP (1 mmol l(-1)) led to an increase in tissue Na(+) levels and a decrease in K(+) levels in a 3:2 ratio. In gill tissue, no change in either ion was observed. These observations indicate that the effect on Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase is direct rather than due to a decrease in intracellular Na(+), its rate-limiting substrate. SNP elevated the level of cyclic GMP (cGMP) in both kidney and gill tissue. Dibutyryl cyclic GMP (db-cGMP; 1 mmol l(-1)) also inhibited Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase activity in both tissues. Hence, a possible mechanism may involve the cGMP-activated kinase, even though other mechanisms cannot be excluded.

Rapid modulation of Na+/K+-ATPase activity in osmoregulatory tissues of a salmonid fish

The effects of cyclic AMP on Na+/K+-ATPase activity were studied in the gill and kidney of the euryhaline brown trout Salmo trutta using two different experimental approaches. In the first series of experiments, in situ Na+/K+-ATPase activity was analyzed by measuring the ouabain-sensitive uptake of non-radioactive rubidium (Rb+) into gill cells and blocks of gill and kidney tissue. Rubidium uptake was linear for at least 30 min and was significantly inhibited by 1 mmol × l(−1) ouabain. Several agents presumed to increase the intracellular cyclic AMP concentration inhibited ouabain-sensitive Rb+ uptake in both gill (0.5 and 2 mmol × l(−1) dibutyryl-cyclic AMP, 1 mmol × l(−1) theophylline, 10 micromol × l(−1) forskolin and 10 micromol × l(−1)isoproterenol) and kidney (10 micromol × l(−1) forskolin) tissue from freshwater-acclimated fish. In a separate series of experiments, ATP hydrolase activity was assayed in a permeabilised gill membrane preparation after incubation of tissue blocks with 10 micromol × l(−1)forskolin. Forskolin elevated gill cyclic AMP levels 40-fold, inhibited maximal enzymatic Na+/K+-ATPase activity (Vmax) in gill tissue from both freshwater- and seawater-acclimated fish and reduced the apparent K+ affinity in the gills of seawater-acclimated fish, demonstrating that the effects are mediated through modifications of the enzyme itself. The protein phosphatase inhibitors okadaic acid and cyclosporin A did not affect forskolin-induced inhibition of Na+/K+-ATPase activity, indicating that forskolin-mediated modulation was stable for the duration of assay. We suggest that cyclic-AMP-mediated phosphorylation through protein kinases may underlie the rapid modulation of Na+/K+-ATPase activity in the osmoregulatory tissues of euryhaline teleosts.