Ontogeny and paleophysiology of the gill: new insights from larval and air-breathing fish.

There are large changes in gill function during development associated with ionoregulation and gas exchange in both larval and air-breathing fish. Physiological studies of larvae indicate that, contrary to accepted dogma but consistent with morphology, the initial function of the gill is primarily ionoregulatory and only secondarily respiratory. In air-breathing fish, as the gill becomes progressively less important in terms of O(2) uptake with expansion of the air-breathing organ, it retains its roles in CO(2) excretion, ion exchange and acid-base balance.

The energetics of embryonic growth.

Embryos typically operate under much tighter energy constraints than older animals. This has had a profound impact on how energy is stored, mobilized and partitioned. The result is sometimes quite different ways of doing things.

Functional plasticity of the developing cardiovascular system: examples from different vertebrates.

Technical advances that have made it possible to perform physiological measurements on very small organisms, including those in embryonic and larval stages, have resulted in the formation of the discipline of developmental physiology. The transparency and size of developing organisms in some areas permit insights into physiological processes that cannot be obtained with opaque, adult organisms. On the other hand, it is widely accepted that without eggs, there are no chickens, so physiological adaptations during early life are just as important to species survival as those manifested by adults.

Ions first: Na+ uptake shifts from the skin to the gills before O2 uptake in developing rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss.

This is the first direct physiological evidence in support of the ionoregulatory hypothesis, challenging the long-held assumption that teleost gills develop initially for gas exchange. Resting unidirectional sodium (Na(+)) uptake and oxygen (O(2)) uptake across the skin and gills were measured simultaneously in larval rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, during development. In soft and hard water, Na(+) uptake shifted to the gills by 15 and 16 days post-hatch (dph) while O(2) uptake took 50-80% longer and shifted by 23 and 28 dph, respectively.

Hemoglobin enhances oxygen uptake in larval zebrafish (Danio rerio) but only under conditions of extreme hypoxia.

The role of hemoglobin (Hb) in O(2) uptake by zebrafish larvae ranging in age from 5 to 42 days postfertilization was assessed under conditions of normoxia, moderate hypoxia and extreme hypoxia. This was achieved by exposing larvae with and without functional Hb to continuously declining oxygen levels (P(O(2))) in closed-system respirometers. Exposure to 5% CO for 2-4 h was used to render Hb effectively non-functional in terms of its ability to transport O(2).

Ontogenetic changes in the toxicity and efficacy of the anaesthetic MS222 (tricaine methanesulfonate) in zebrafish (Danio rerio) larvae.

Median lethal (LC(50)) and effective (EC(50)) concentrations for 1-h and 24-h exposures to the anaesthetic MS222 (tricaine methanesulfonate) were determined for zebrafish Danio rerio larvae ranging in age from 3 days postfertilization (dpf) to 9 dpf. Cessation of heart beat was used as the indicator of death (LC(50)) while failure to respond to direct mechanical stimulation of the head region was taken as an indication of deep anaesthesia (EC(50)). 1-h LC(50)s, 1-h EC(50)s and 24-h EC(50)s all decreased gradually but significantly (all P<0.

The functional ontogeny of the teleost gill: which comes first, gas or ion exchange?

For most of the last century, the need to obtain sufficient oxygen to meet the respiratory requirements of the tissues was viewed as the primary selective pressure driving gill development in teleost fish. Recently, however, it has been suggested that ionoregulatory pressures may actually be more important. This manuscript reviews the theoretical and empirical evidence dealing with the functional ontogeny of the gill in the context of the oxygen and ionoregulatory hypotheses.

Gills are needed for ionoregulation before they are needed for O(2) uptake in developing zebrafish, Danio rerio.

A variation on the classic ablation method was used to determine whether O(2) uptake or ionoregulation is the first to shift from the skin to the gills in developing zebrafish, Danio rerio. Zebrafish larvae, ranging in age from 3 to 21 days postfertilization, were prevented from ventilating their gills and forced to rely on cutaneous processes by exposing them to one of two anaesthetics (tricaine methanesulphonate or phenoxyethanol) or by embedding their gills in agar. They were then placed in solutions designed to compensate selectively for impaired O(2) uptake (42% O(2)), impaired ionoregulatory capacity (50% physiological saline) or impairment of both functions (42% O(2)+50% physiological saline).