Effect of environmental salinity manipulation on uptake rates and distribution patterns of waterborne amino acids in the Pacific hagfish

Among vertebrates, hagfish are the only known iono- and osmoconformers, and the only species thus far documented to absorb amino acids directly across the skin. In the current study, short-term (6 h) manipulations of exposure salinities (75–125% seawater) were conducted to determine whether changes in osmotic demands influenced the uptake and tissue distribution of waterborne amino acids (alanine, glycine and phenylalanine), in the Pacific hagfish, Eptatretus stoutii. No changes in erythrocyte or muscle amino acid accumulation rates were noted, but the patterns of plasma amino acid accumulation were suggestive of regulation. Contrary to expectations, glycine transport across the skin in vitro was enhanced in the lowest exposure salinity, but no other salinity-dependent changes were demonstrated. Overall, this study indicates that uptake and distribution of amino acids varies with salinity, but not in a manner that is consistent with a role for the studied amino acids in maintaining osmotic balance in hagfish.