Skip to main content
Log in

Reduced hypoosmoregulatory ability and alteration in gill chloride cell distribution in mature chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) migrating upstream for spawning

  • Published:
Marine Biology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Osmoregulatory ability of mature chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) during spawning migration was examined by following the changes in gill Na+, K+-ATPase activity and in the distribution and morphology of chloride cells. Mature chum salmon caught in Otsuchi Bay, northern Honshu Island, Japan, died within 5 d in seawater (SW) in association with a marked increase in plasma osmolality, whereas the fish transferred to fresh water (FW) maintained plasma osmolality efficiently. Gill Na+, K+-ATPase activity decreased in both SW-maintained and FW-transferred fish. Well-developed chloride cells, identified by immunocytochemical staining specific for Na+, K+-ATPase, were present mainly in the filament epithelium of immature fish caught in the ocean. In mature fish caught in the bay, however, additional chloride cells were also found in the lamellar epithelium. The number of filament chloride cells decreased markedly in the mature fish both in SW and in FW, whereas the number of lamellar chloride cells was maintained. These results suggest that the loss of hypoosmoregulatory ability in mature chum salmon may be attributable to the decrease in filament chloride cells and associated decrease in gill Na+, K+-ATPase activity, and also that appearance of lamellar chloride cells may be preparatory to the forthcoming upstream migration.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Received: 14 April 1997 / Accepted: 5 May 1997

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Uchida, K., Kaneko, T., Yamaguchi, A. et al. Reduced hypoosmoregulatory ability and alteration in gill chloride cell distribution in mature chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) migrating upstream for spawning. Marine Biology 129, 247–253 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002270050165

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002270050165

Keywords

Navigation