RENAL ACID-BASE PHYSIOLOGY IN MARINE TELEOST, THE LONG-HORNED SCULPIN (MYOXOCEPHALUS-OCTODECIMSPINOSUS)

We have sought to define urinary acid-base excretion in the marine teleost using the long-horned sculpin, Myoxocephalus octodecimspinosus. Urine flow (1.7 ml.h-1.kg-1) is relatively high, and glomerular filtration rate is very low (2.9 ml.h-1.kg-1). The urine-to-plasma ratio of inulin is 2. Renal clearance of p-aminohippurate is very high (108 ml.h-1.kg-1); phosphate and divalent cations are also secreted. In this framework we found urinary pH to average 6.6, but infusion of acid or alkali elicited a pH range of 6.1-7.8. Untreated fish may also have alkaline urine; so it is not surprising that precipitates of calcium or magnesium phosphate are sometimes found in bladder. These are of fine sandy quality and never cause blockage. Infusion of buffer (imidazole) increased the concentration of titratable acid 11-fold and output 2.5-fold. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors had no effect on any urinary component, and histochemical studies revealed that cytoplasm and membranes did not yield the specific cobalt stain for the enzyme. An alkaline load (NaHCO3) is rapidly dissipated by gill excretion, mediated in part by carbonic anhydrase. An acid load (HCl) is rapidly dissipated by gill excretion, not dependent on carbonic anhydrase, and some renal excretion. Comparison and contrast of the low rates of HCO3- reabsorption in the marine teleost (and elasmobranch) with those of mammals suggest strongly that renal carbonic anhydrase evolved in connection with these high reabsorptive rates beginning in freshwater fish and continuing through amphibia and birds.