Identification and Localization of H+-ATPase, NHE2 and NHE3 in the gills of the southern Appalachian brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis

ASU Author/Contributor (non-ASU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Brian Patrick Mikeworth (Creator)
Institution
Appalachian State University (ASU )
Web Site: https://library.appstate.edu/
Advisor
Susan Edwards

Abstract: Southern brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) native to the Great Smoky Mountains are found in headwater streams. These habitats experience increased instances of stream acidification, lowering stream pH on average ~1.0 pH unit. It is well documented that lowering environmental pH results in fish experiencing systemic acidosis. We hypothesize that during acidification events, brook trout suffer acid/base perturbation. Previous studies on other species of freshwater fishes have demonstrated an alteration in the relative expression of H+-ATPase, NHE2 and NHE3 in gill tissue during pH disturbances. Due to a lack of physiological information available, the mechanism utilized by S. fontinalis to regulate systemic pH is unknown. We hypothesized that S. fontinalis will utilize H+-ATPase, NHE2 and NHE3 to excrete excess protons when experiencing episodic stream acidification. To date, we cloned ORFs for H+-ATPase, NHE2, and NHE3 which are homologous to rainbow trout (87, 94 and 92% identical respectively). Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated H+-ATPase, NHE2 and NHE3 expression is localized to the apical membrane and sub-apical regions of the MRCs in gill epithelia. Also, the relative expression of H+-ATPase decreased along an elevation gradient, whereas NHE3 does not.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Mikeworth, B.P. (2012). Identification and Localization of H+-ATPase, NHE2 and NHE3 in the gills of the southern Appalachian brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis. Unpublished master’s thesis. Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.
Language: English
Date: 2012
Keywords
Brook trout, Acid-base regulation, Osmoregulation, Mitochondrion-rich cells, Episodic stream acidification, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Email this document to