Evidence that Rh proteins in the anal papillae of the freshwater mosquito Aedes aegypti are involved in the regulation of acid-base balance in elevated salt and ammonia environments [RESEARCH ARTICLE]
In this study, effects of rearing larvae in salt (5 mmol l–1 NaCl) or ammonia (5 mmol l–1 NH4Cl) on physiological endpoints of ammonia and ion regulation were assessed. In anal papillae of NaCl-reared larvae, Rh protein expression increased, NHE3 transcript abundance decreased and NH4+ excretion increased, and this coincided with decreased hemolymph [NH4+] and pH. We propose that under these conditions, larvae excrete more NH4+ through Rh proteins as a means of eliminating acid from the hemolymph. In anal papillae of NH4Cl-reared larvae, expression of an apical ammonia transporter and the Rh proteins decreased, the activities of NKA and VA decreased and increased, respectively, and this coincided with hemolymph acidification. The results present evidence for a role of Rh proteins in acid–base balance in response to elevated levels of salt, whereby ammonia is excreted as an acid equivalent.
Source: Journal of Experimental Biology - Category: Biology Authors: Durant, A. C., Donini, A. Tags: RESEARCH ARTICLE Source Type: research