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Morphological and molecular investigations of the holocephalan elephant fish nephron: the existence of a countercurrent-like configuration and two separate diluting segments in the distal tubule

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-18, 16:19 authored by Kakumura, K, Takabe, S, Takagi, W, Hasegawa, K, Konno, N, Bell, JD, Toop, T, Donald, JA, Kaneko, T, Hyodo, S
In marine cartilaginous fish, reabsorption of filtered urea by the kidney is essential for retaining a large amount of urea in their body. However, the mechanism for urea reabsorption is poorly understood due to the complexity of the kidney. To address this problem, we focused on elephant fish (Callorhinchus milii) for which a genome database is available, and conducted molecular mapping of membrane transporters along the different segments of the nephron. Basically, the nephron architecture of elephant fish was similar to that described for elasmobranch nephrons, but some unique features were observed. The late distal tubule (LDT), which corresponded to the fourth loop of the nephron, ran straight near the renal corpuscle, while it was convoluted around the tip of the loop. The ascending and descending limbs of the straight portion were closely apposed to each other and were arranged in a countercurrent fashion. The convoluted portion of LDT was tightly packed and enveloped by the larger convolution of the second loop that originated from the same renal corpuscle. In situ hybridization analysis demonstrated that co-localization of Na+,K+,2Cl cotransporter 2 and Na+/K+-ATPase α1 subunit was observed in the early distal tubule and the posterior part of LDT, indicating the existence of two separate diluting segments. The diluting segments most likely facilitate NaCl absorption and thereby water reabsorption to elevate urea concentration in the filtrate, and subsequently contribute to efficient urea reabsorption in the final segment of the nephron, the collecting tubule, where urea transporter-1 was intensely localized.

History

Publication title

Cell and Tissue Research

Volume

362

Pagination

677-688

ISSN

0302-766X

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Springer

Place of publication

Germany

Rights statement

Copyright 2015 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Marine biodiversity

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