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Pituitary control of branchial NCC, NKCC and Na+, K+-ATPase α-subunit gene expression in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus

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Abstract

This study investigated endocrine control of branchial ionoregulatory function in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) by prolactin (Prl188 and Prl177), growth hormone (Gh) and cortisol. Branchial expression of Na+/Cl− cotransporter (ncc) and Na+/K+/2Cl− cotransporter (nkcc) genes were employed as specific markers for freshwater- and seawater-type ionocytes, respectively. We further investigated whether Prl, Gh and cortisol direct expression of two Na+, K+-ATPase (nka)-α1 subunit genes, denoted nka-α1a and nka-α1b. Tilapia transferred to fresh water following hypophysectomy failed to adequately activate gill ncc expression; ncc expression was subsequently restored by Prl replacement. Prl188 and Prl177 stimulated ncc expression in cultured gill filaments in a concentration-related manner, suggesting that ncc is regulated by Prl in a gill-autonomous fashion. Tilapia transferred to brackish water (23 ‰) following hypophysectomy exhibited a reduced capacity to up-regulate nka-α1b expression. However, Gh and cortisol failed to affect nka-α1b expression in vivo. Similarly, we found no clear effects of Gh or cortisol on nkcc expression both in vivo and in vitro. When considered with patterns previously described in euryhaline Mozambique tilapia (O. mossambicus), the current study suggests that ncc is a conserved target of Prl in tilapiine cichlids. In addition, we revealed contrasting dependencies upon the pituitary to direct nka-α1b expression in hyperosmotic environments between Nile and Mozambique tilapia.

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Acknowledgments

We appreciate the encouragement and guidance provided by Prof. Tetsuya Hirano during the course of this study. We also thank Mr. Matt Barton, Mr. Jacob Stagg, and Ms. Elly Breves for laboratory assistance. This work was supported by NSF (IOS-1119693; E.G.G.), USDA (2008-35206-18785 and -18787; E.G.G. and D.T.L.), the Binational Agricultural Research Development (BARD) fund (IS-4296-10) and the Edwin W. Pauley Summer Program in Marine Biology (2012).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai‘i, Kaneohe, HI, 96744, USA

    Jason P. Breves, Andre P. Seale, Benjamin P. Moorman, Darren T. Lerner & E. Gordon Grau

  2. Department of Biology and Center for Neuroendocrine Studies, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA

    Jason P. Breves

  3. Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Benjamin P. Moorman

  4. Sea Grant College Program, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu, HI, 96822, USA

    Darren T. Lerner & E. Gordon Grau

  5. School of Marine Biosciences, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0373, Japan

    Shunsuke Moriyama

  6. Pacific Aquaculture and Coastal Resources Center, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA

    Kevin D. Hopkins

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  1. Jason P. Breves
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  2. Andre P. Seale
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  4. Darren T. Lerner
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  5. Shunsuke Moriyama
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  7. E. Gordon Grau
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Correspondence to Jason P. Breves.

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Communicated by G. Heldmaier.

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Breves, J.P., Seale, A.P., Moorman, B.P. et al. Pituitary control of branchial NCC, NKCC and Na+, K+-ATPase α-subunit gene expression in Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus . J Comp Physiol B 184, 513–523 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00360-014-0817-0

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