Carbonic anhydrase is not the only factor regulating otolith mineralization in fish in dependence of the gravitational environment

Abstract

Earlier experiments have shown, that fish otolith growth and mineralization is slowed down by hypergravity (hg). The enzyme carbonic anhydrase (CAH) provides carbonate and, thus, plays a major role in otolith calcification. Indeed, CAH reactivity in inner ear maculae is downregulated by hg. The following experiment was designed in order to elucidate as of whether CAH is the only factor regulating otolith mineralization in dependence of the gravity vector: A first group of larval cichlid fish ( Oreochromis mossambicus) was reared in normal aquarium water at 1 g (1 g-Aq). A second group received hg (3 g, 7 days) as a physical factor to decrease CAH reactivity (3 g-Aq). A third group (1 g-AZ) was (at 1 g) treated with azetazolamide (AZ; 1 g/l), an inhibitor of CAH (the AZ-concentration used resulted in a complete inhibition of CAH as had been proven by a biochemical assessment of enzyme activity). The last group was maintained both in AZ and at hg (3 g-AZ). Both the saccular and utricular otoliths (sagittae and lapilli, respectively) of the 1 g-AZ group showed a decrease in otolith growth (surface area) as compared to the 1 g-Aq animals (1 g-AZ < 1 g-Aq). Similar results were obtained when comparing 3 g-Aq with 1 g-Aq samples (3 g-Aq < 1 g-Aq). Regarding sagittae, AZ treatment had no significant additional effect on otolith mineralization under hg (3 g-AZ = 1 g-AZ). In case of lapilli, however, growth received a further reduction when reared in 3 g-AZ (i.e., 3 g-AZ < 1 g-AZ). Thus, in lapilli, hg and AZ added their effects on otolith growth. This finding clearly indicates that hg does not only act on otolith growth via a regulation of CAH activity.