In view of the importance of the intestine in the osmoregulation of freshwater fishes, we determined the effects of oxytocin, urotensin II (UII), and aldosterone added to the serosal side of the isolated posterior intestine of the freshwater-adapted teleost Anguilla anguilla on electrophysiological parameters. Oxytocin decreased the short-circuit current (SCC) and transepithelial potential difference (TPD) at concentrations of 1 and 10 mU/ml (to 50% and 42% of control values, respectively), but did not alter these parameters at a concentration of 0.1 mU/ml. UII reduced SCC and TPD at concentrations of 10 nM, 50 nM and 100 nM (to 85% of control values), but increased these parameters at the concentration of 500 nM (to 115% of control values). Aldosterone did not alter SCC or TPD at the concentrations tested (10 nM and 100 nM). Oxytocin may open Na + channels in the apical membrane, allowing the flow of Na + to the serosa, reducing SCC and TPD. Should this hypothesis be correct, oxytocin would be important for freshwater adaptation, since it would increase Na + absorption. The reduction of SCC and TPD in the posterior intestine of A. anguilla induced by UII is evidence that this neurohormone is also important for freshwater adaptation in teleosts. Aldosterone did not show this effect probably due to the lack of receptors in this organ.

The effect of urotensis II (UII) on the flow of water and ions (Na+, K+, Ca2+ and Mg2+) in the medium intestine, rectum, gallbladder and urinary bladder of the freshwater teleost Hoplias malabaricus was investigated. The flow of water of all the studied organs of H. malabaricus is from mucosa to serosa (absorption). UII increased the flow of water in the medium intestine, gallbladder and urinary bladder. The medium intestine, gallbladder and urinary bladder also absorb Na+. K+ is absorbed in the rectum and secreted in the urinary bladder. UII did not affect the flow of Na+ and K+ in the studied portions. All studied portions secreted Ca2+, and UII reduced the fow of this ion in the medium intestine and urinary bladder. The flow of Ca2+ in the rectum and gallbladder was not altered by UII. There is no significant flow of Mg2+ in the studied portions, and UII stimulated the absorption of this ion in the medium intestine and urinary bladder. This study indicates that UII participates in the controlo f osmoregulatory organs of H. malabaricus. This study also raises the possibility that UII may be involved in the regulation of the composition of the bile fishesm, since it alters water and Ca2+ fluxes in the gallbladder of H. malabaricus.

Freshwater-and seawater-adapted Oreochromis mossambicus were submitted to 5 different treatments (urophysectomy, sham operation, urophyseal extract injection, saline injection and control) and transferred to brackish water. In freshwater – adapted fish transfarred to brackish water, urophysectomy increases plasma Na+, K+, Ca+ and osmotic concentrations. In seawater-adapted fish transferred to brackish water, plasma Na+ and K+ concentration were lower in control than other treatment group. The utophysis seems to act only in the “fine tuning” of osmoregulatory processes. Adaptations to changes in the salinity of the medium probably are regulated mainly by prolactin and cortisol.

This study analyzed the effect of the injection of urotensin I (UI) and urotensis II (UII) on the stabilization of the transepithelial potential difference (TPD) of the medium intestine, rectum, and gallbladder of Hoplias malabaricus to investigate if the transport of ions in these organs is affected "in vivo" by these neurohormones. The TPD of the medium intestine, rectum and gallbladder was serosa positive, and remained constant since the first measurement. The injection of both urotensins did not alter the stabilization of the TPD of the medium intestine and rectum when compared with saline-injected group. The injection of UI increased the TPD of the gallbladder in the beginning (0-10 min) of the stabilization period and in the interval of 20-30 min of the stabilization period when fishes were killed 2h and 4h after the injection, respectively, in relation to saline-injected group. The UII injection increased the TPD of the gallbladder only in the beginning (time 0) of the stabilization period in relation to saline when fishes were killed 2h after the injection. No changes in the TPD of the studied organs were detected when fishes were killed 4h after the injection of UII. This study confirms the hypothesis that UI and UII can participate in the regulation of the composition of the bile of fishes, since the injection of both hormones altered the TPD of the gallbladder of H. malabaricus.