Van Fish: Kidney Changes During Their Big Swim

Van fish have a tough job. They live in Lake Van, which is quite different from regular freshwater. Every year, they swim upstream to spawn, facing big changes in their environment. This journey is not easy. Scientists wanted to see how these changes affect the fish's kidneys. They looked at kidney tissue from fish in different places. They found that the kidneys changed a lot. The tubes and filters in the kidneys got bigger or smaller depending on where the fish were. This helps the fish handle the different water conditions.The scientists also looked at special proteins and dying cells in the kidneys. They saw more of these proteins in the stream and more dying cells downstream. This shows the fish's body is working hard to adapt. They also checked the fish's blood. They found different levels of chemicals like urea and sodium. These changes help the fish stay balanced in different waters. So, the fish's kidneys change to help them survive. This is how they handle the stress of their big swim.