Cortisol regulates Na+ uptake in zebrafish, Danio rerio, larvae via the glucocorticoid receptor

Abstract Unlike other freshwater fish previously examined, zebrafish are capable of increasing their rate of Na + uptake during chronic exposure to acidic water (pH 4). In the present study, the potential role of cortisol in the induction of Na + uptake during acid-exposure was investigated. When zebrafish larvae (4 days post-fertilization) were treated with waterborne cortisol, the rate of Na + uptake was significantly increased; this effect was blocked by co-incubating larvae with RU-486, an antagonist selective for the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). A similar induction in Na + uptake, which was also blocked by RU-486, was observed when larvae were treated with dexamethasone, a selective GR agonist. Conversely, treating larvae with aldosterone, a selective agonist for the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) had no effect on Na + uptake. Acid-exposure increased whole body cortisol levels and translational knockdown of GR using antisense morpholinos prevented the full induction of Na + uptake during exposure to acidic water, further confirming the role of cortisol and GR in Na + uptake stimulation. Using immunohistochemistry, GR was localized to ionocytes known to be responsible for Na + uptake (HR-cells). Knockdown of Rhcg1, an apical membrane ammonia channel or Na + /H + exchanger 3b (NHE3b), proteins known to play an important role in facilitating Na + uptake in acidic water, prevented the stimulatory effects of cortisol treatment on Na + uptake, suggesting that cortisol regulates Na + uptake by stimulating an Rhcg1–NHE3b “functional metabolon”.