The expression of Na, K-ATPase in Litopenaeus vannamei under salinity stress

Abstract The purpose of this study was to explore the mRNA expression of Na, K-ATPase alpha subunit in Litopenaeus vannamei (Boone, 1931) in response to salinity stress. L. vannamei acclimated to 30 ppt, was transferred to 30 (control), 15, 7.5 and 1 ppt for 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h. Partial Na, K-ATPase alpha subunit expression in both gills and hepatopancreas was examined using quantitative real-time PCR, showing that there was no significant difference within 3 h after treatment (P>0.05). However, there was a suddenly increase to a peak value at 6 h (P<0.05), then the expression level decreased from 12 h to 24 h. Similar results were obtained for the activities of the Na, K-ATPase. These results suggest that L. vannamei Na, K-ATPase expression is stimulated by salinity stress and that it may play important roles in regulation of the ion density in vivo. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the mRNA expression of Na, K-ATPase alpha subunit in L. vannamei in response to salinity stress.