Isolation and characterization of mitochondria-rich cell types from the gill of freshwater rainbow trout

Fernando Galvez, University of Alberta
Scott D. Reid, Okanagan College
Guy Hawkings, University of Alberta
Greg G. Goss, University of Alberta

Abstract

A magnetic cell separation technique (MACS) was developed for isolating and characterizing peanut lectin agglutinin positive (PNA+) cells from rainbow trout gills. Percoll density separated mitochondria-rich (MR) cells were serially labeled with PNA-FITC and an anti-FITC antibody covalently coupled to a 50-nm iron particle and then applied to a magnetic column. PNA+ MR cells were enriched to >95% purity. Transmission electron microscopy analysis of both the PNA+ and PNA negative (PNA-) fraction showed that PNA binds to MR chloride cells while the PNA- cell fraction is comprised of MR cells with features characteristic of pavement cells. Western blotting demonstrated that both PNA+ and PNA- fractions had high levels of Na+-K+-ATPase and Sco1 expression; however, relative expression of H+-ATPase in PNA+ and PNA- cells demonstrated that untreated fish had twofold higher H+-ATPase levels in PNA- cells relative to the PNA+ cells. Furthermore, hypercapnic acidosis significantly increased the relative H+-ATPase expression on PNA- cells only, whereas metabolic alkalosis had no significant effect.