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First published online May 15, 2009
Journal of Experimental Biology 212, 1716-1730 (2009)
Published by The Company of Biologists 2009
doi: 10.1242/jeb.024851

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Review Article

Ammonia and urea transporters in gills of fish and aquatic crustaceans

Dirk Weihrauch¹, Michael P. Wilkie² and Patrick J. Walsh^3,*

¹ Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, 190 Dysart Road, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N2 Canada
² Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University, 75 University Avenue West, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5 Canada
³ Department of Biology, Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5 Canada

^* Author for correspondence (e-mail: pwalsh{at}uottawa.ca)

Accepted 19 November 2008

The diversity of mechanisms of ammonia and urea excretion by the gills and other epithelia of aquatic organisms, especially fish and crustaceans, has been studied for decades. Although the decades-old dogma of `aquatic species excrete ammonia' still explains nitrogenous waste excretion for many species, it is clear that there are many mechanistic variations on this theme. Even within species that are ammonoteles, the process is not purely `passive', often relying on the energizing effects of proton and sodium–potassium ATPases. Within the ammonoteles, Rh (Rhesus) proteins are beginning to emerge as vital ammonia conduits. Many fishes are also known to be capable of substantial synthesis and excretion of urea as a nitrogenous waste. In such species, members of the UT family of urea transporters have been identified as important players in urea transport across the gills. This review attempts to draw together recent information to update the mechanisms of ammonia and urea transport by the gills of aquatic species. Furthermore, we point out several potentially fruitful avenues for further research.

Key words: fish, crustaceans, gills, ammonia transport, urea transport, UT, Rh proteins

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