Ontogeny and Stress-Induced Plasticity of Osmoregulatory Machinery in Exopalaemon carinicauda: Distinct Spatiotemporal Localization of Na+/K+-ATPase and Carbonic Anhydrase Isoforms

Abstract

Simple Summary The ridgetail white prawn, Exopalaemon carinicauda, is a shrimp species that can live in coastal and inland saline–alkaline waters, making it an ideal subject for studying how aquatic animals maintain their osmotic balance. This study examined when and where three key ion-transport proteins (NKA, CAc and CAg) appear during the shrimp’s early development, and how they respond to low-salinity and high-alkalinity stress in juveniles. We found that these proteins become active at different developmental stages and gradually shift from being present throughout the body to becoming concentrated in the gills and intestines as the shrimp matures. When shrimp were exposed to low-salinity or high-alkalinity conditions, the amounts and locations of these proteins in their gills changed in complex ways that did not always match changes in their corresponding gene activities. These findings help us understand how shrimp adapt to saline–alkaline water conditions, which is valuable for improving shrimp farming practices and managing saline–alkaline aquaculture environments.