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Chloride cells and osmoregulation

J A Zadunaisky1

  • 1Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, New York University Medical Center, New York, USA.

Kidney International
|June 1, 1996
PubMed
Summary

Fish gills adapt to saltwater by increasing plasma osmolarity, which stimulates chloride secretion. Cell shrinkage activates key transporters, enabling adaptation to higher salinity environments.

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Area of Science:

  • Physiology
  • Environmental Adaptation
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Fish gills possess specialized chloride cells crucial for osmoregulation.
  • Adapting to increased salinity, such as during the freshwater-to-seawater transition, requires rapid physiological adjustments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of plasma osmolarity in stimulating chloride secretion during fish adaptation to seawater.
  • To elucidate the cellular mechanisms underlying the osmotic response in fish gill chloride cells.

Main Methods:

  • Measuring plasma osmolarity changes in Fundulus heteroclitus during seawater acclimation.
  • Inducing osmotic changes with mannitol on isolated opercular epithelial membranes.
  • Quantifying chloride secretion via short-circuit current measurements.
  • Utilizing imaging and quantitative optics to study chloride cell volume changes.

Main Results:

  • A maximal plasma osmolarity increase of 65 mOsm was observed in killifish acclimating to seawater.
  • Exogenous osmotic increases stimulated chloride secretion in isolated gill preparations.
  • Chloride cell shrinkage was identified as a key event, activating the Na-K-2Cl cotransporter and Na/H exchanger.
  • Apical chloride channels and normal calcium levels were found to be essential for the response.

Conclusions:

  • Transient increases in plasma osmolarity are the primary signal stimulating chloride secretion during seawater acclimation.
  • Chloride cell shrinkage, mediated by osmotic changes, is a critical mechanism for activating ion transport necessary for hyperosmotic adaptation.
  • The Na-K-2Cl cotransporter and Na/H exchanger play vital roles, while a Cl/HCO3 exchanger is not involved in this osmotic response.

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