Regulation of membrane lipid bilayer structure during salinity adaptation: A study with the gill epithelial cell membranes of Oreochromis niloticus

A significant variation in the membrane fluidity (as assessed by DPH-fluorescence polarisation) and membrane lipid bilayer composition is noticed in the subcellular membranes of the gill epithelial cells of Oreochromis niloticus due to exposure of the fish to 1% saline water for 1 month. Also, a 70% enhanced activity of Na+-K+-ATPase in plasma membranes and a 2.5-fold increase of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase in microsomal membranes are recorded in the treated fish. The changed membrane structure and fluidity along with the changed enzymatic activity of Na+-K+-ATPase help the influx the Na+ rather than the efflux of K+ through the gill epithelial cells during salinity adaptation.