Comparative time-course study on pituitary and branchial response to salinity challenge in Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) and Nile tilapia (O. niloticus)

The physiological response of Mozambique and Nile tilapia transferred from fresh to brackish (15 ppt) water was compared during a one-week time course. Response in the pituitary was measured by the gene expression pattern of prolactin (PRL I), growth hormone (GH), and calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR), while the response in the gills was measured by the gene expression pattern of the prolactin receptor (PRL-R), Na(+)/K(+)/2Cl(-) cotransporter (NKCC) and Na(+)/Cl(-) cotransporter (NCC), and by activity and expression of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase (NKA). The time-course curves of plasma osmolality levels indicate a rapid elevation 24 h after transfer, which later decreased and maintained at stable level. PRL I expression decreased in both species, but with stronger response in the Nile tilapia, while no differences were found in the slightly elevated levels of GH mRNA. The branchial response demonstrated a faster up-regulation of NKA and NKCC in the Mozambique tilapia, but similar levels after a week, while Nile tilapia had stronger and constant down-regulation of NCC. The time-course response of the measured osmoregulatory parameters indicate that 24 h after transfer is a critical time point for brackish-water adaptation. The differences in responses to saltwater challenge between Mozambique and Nile tilapia shown in this study may be associated with the differences in saltwater tolerance between these two tilapiine species.