An examination of two genes involved in rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss) sodium transport.

Abstract

This thesis examines the theory that rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) regulate sodium through an epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and a proton-ATPase. An attempt was made to clone an ENaC from a rainbow trout cDNA library and from total RNA through nested primers and PCR and RT-PCR resulting in RAPD-type E. coli DNA amplification and amplification of trout collagen, however, producing nothing related to ENaC. The second part focuses on the trout proton-ATPase B-subunit (H +-ATPase) that was used in a Northern hybridization tissue distribution. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the H+-ATPase is highly similar to other known B-subunits, particularly the brain isoform. H+-ATPase mRNA quantification attempts to examine the effect of various environmental factors failed due to the use of an improper internal control. Cortisol RIA's showed no change in levels in fish exposed to hypercapnia or reduced ion water but were significantly increased in the cortisol implanted fish.