Structural lipid changes and NKA activity of gill cells´ basolateral membranes as response to increasing salinity and atrazine stressors in sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus, L.) juveniles

Abstract

In the last decades, several authors have pointed out a reduction in the sea lamprey population abundance in Portuguese rivers. In spite of this, studies concerning downstream migration and the conditions experienced by sea lamprey juveniles during this process are yet to be understood. Considering that changes in lipid composition of the gill cells´ basolateral membrane (BLM) may disrupt the major transporter Na+K+-ATPase (NKA), this study goals were to detect changes at this level either during seawater acclimation (0 to 35) or after the exposure to atrazine (50 and 100 μg/L atrazine during 30 days). This would give us information about the gill cells´ BLM strategy to response to increasing salinity and atrazine (ATZ) stressors and consequently information on the recruitment success of sea lamprey populations.