A New Analysis of Ammonia and Sodium Transport Through the Gills of the Freshwater Rainbow Trout (Salmo Gairdneri)

Abstract

The mechanism of ammonia excretion and sodium absorption was re-examined in trout using the isolated-perfused head preparation. Preliminary experiments in which ammonia concentration was increased on the blood side (internal) showed that ammonia and sodium transport was uncoupled. For ammonia excretion, our results showed that gill tissue endogenously produces ammonia. A correlation was demonstrated between ammonia excretion and the internal-external ammonia gradient. We conclude that diffusion in the form of NH3 was responsible for ammonia efflux and we were therefore able to estimate its diffusion coefficient (DNH3 = 1.55×10−6cm2s−1) and permeability coefficient (6×10−3cm s−1). This ammonia diffusion was shown to be modified according to the external proton availability. For sodium absorption, significant changes were caused by indirect modifications of intracellular pH brought about by addition of acetazolamide inside or ammonia outside or by acidification of the internal or external medium. The relationship between sodium and proton transport was further confirmed by the action of the drug amiloride and the measurement of H+ excretion. A possible model representing sodium, proton and ammonia transport through the gill epithelium is proposed.