Effects of nitrite exposure on blood respiratory properties, acid-base and electrolyte regulation in the carp (Cyprinus carpio) (original) (raw)
Summary
Adult carp were subjected to 1 m_M_ environmental nitrite for 48 h and nitrite uptake and changes in blood respiratory properties, extracellular electrolyte composition and acid-base status were examined.
A constant influx of nitrite caused an accumulation of NO −2 in plasma to 5.4 m_M_ in 48 h. The fraction of methaemoglobin rose with plasma [NO −2 ] to 83%, and the arterial oxygen content decreased to extremely low values. Arterial\(P_{{\text{O}}_2 }\) increased as a compensation to this O2-shortage, whereas the O2 saturation of the functional (unoxidized) haemoglobin decreased, revealing a reduction in its O2 affinity.
Blood haematocrit decreased as a result of red cell shrinkage, which caused very high red cell haemoglobin (Hb) concentrations. The erythrocytic nucleoside triphosphate (NTP) concentration showed a parallel increase whereby NTP/Hb, as well as the relative contributions of ATP and GTP to NTP, remained unchanged.
Plasma [Cl−] declined by 15 m_M_ in 48 h, off-setting the plasma [NO −2 ] increase, minor changes in plasma [HCO −3 ] and a considerable increase in plasma [lactate]. Arterial pH and [HCO −3 ] rose slightly during the first 24 h of nitrite exposure, but returned to control values at 48 h. The rise in plasma [lactate] was not reflected in an extracellular metabolic acidosis. Plasma [K+] increased by 94% in 48 h, revealing an uncompensated extracellular hyperkalemia, whereas plasma [Na+] decreased, and plasma [Ca++] was unchanged. Plasma osmolality remained essentially constant.
The NO −2 accumulation could be reversed by transfer of the fish to NO −2 -free water, but nitrite ‘off-loading’ was slower than the preceding NO −2 loading.
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Abbreviations
Hb:
hemoglobin
NTP :
nucleoside triphosphate
Hct :
hematocrit
\(S_{{\text{O}}_2 }\) :
fractional saturation of Hb with oxygen
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- Frank B. Jensen
Present address: Institute of Biology, Odense University, DK-5230, Odense M, Denmark
Authors and Affiliations
- Abteilung Physiologie, Max-Planck-Institut für experimentelle Medizin, D-3400, Göttingen, Federal Republic of Germany
Frank B. Jensen, Niels A. Andersen & Norbert Heisler
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- Frank B. Jensen
You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar - Niels A. Andersen
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Jensen, F.B., Andersen, N.A. & Heisler, N. Effects of nitrite exposure on blood respiratory properties, acid-base and electrolyte regulation in the carp (Cyprinus carpio).J Comp Physiol B 157, 533–541 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00700972
- Accepted: 01 August 1987
- Issue Date: September 1987
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00700972