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Biology
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Metabolic and Stress Responses in Aquatic Animals
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Metabolic and Stress Responses in Aquatic Animals

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Zoology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 10357

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marcelino Herrera

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
IFAPA Centro Agua del Pino, 21450 Cartaya, Spain
Interests: fish welfare; animal physiology; aquatic animals; aquaculture; stress; fish; metabolism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Laura Fernández-Alacid

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Cell Biology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Avda. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Interests: physiology; aquaculture; skin mucus; lipid metabolism; marine fish; acute stress; chronic stress; welfare
Dr. Ignacio Ruiz-Jarabo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departament of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University Complutense, 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: welfare; physiology; aquatic animals; endocrinology; fish; cephalopods; energy metabolism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Stress is a complex and multifactorial process which is present in all living beings. It can be considered as a defence mechanism to face abiotic and biotic stimuli (stressors) that modify the basal state of the organism. Stress responses include physiological actions that usually entail whole-body metabolism to restore homeostasis through energy expenditure.

Aquatic animals are in an environment with certain physicochemical peculiarities and, therefore, they are challenged to different stimuli. Since there is an enormous diversity of aquatic species, their metabolic responses to stress are varied. In general, animals present a series of primary responses, of endocrine origin, that stimulate deeper (secondary) actions that require allostatic modifications in metabolism. Some of these responses include the mobilization of hormones, energy resources, activation of the immune system, or changes in the redox balance at the cellular level.

Studies on the stress in fish, cephalopods and other aquatic animals have become relevant in recent years due to the close relationship between stress and welfare. Those studies have been aimed at improving the knowledge on the welfare of those animals in captivity, for both aquaculture and exhibition purposes. Although significant progress has been made, many matters remain unclear mainly due to the high diversity of aquatic animals and their potential stressors.

Through the present Special Issue, we encourage researchers and technicians to submit their articles in order to get a deeper knowledge on stress and metabolic responses in aquatic animals. This Special Issue welcomes works related to physiological, endocrine, immunological, behavioural, and metabolic responses to stress in aquatic animals, including vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as wild and captive animals. The proposals involving animal welfare are of special interest, in addition to those reporting new analytical techniques or procedures to approach classical or common challenges.

Dr. Marcelino Herrera
Dr. Laura Fernández-Alacid
Dr. Ignacio Ruiz-Jarabo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • stress
  • metabolism
  • animal welfare
  • aquaculture
  • cephalopods
  • fish
  • molluscs
  • crustaceans
  • aquatic animals
  • animal physiology

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 2727 KiB  
Article
Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Organic Silicon on the Growth Performance, Blood Biochemistry, Digestive Enzymes, Morphohistology, Intestinal Microbiota and Stress Resistance in Juvenile Hybrid Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus × Oreochromis niloticus)
by Yuniel Méndez-Martínez, Helen A. Valensuela-Barros, Yanis Cruz-Quintana, Aroldo Botello-León, Roberto D. Muñoz-Mestanza, Grace L. Orellana-Castro and Carlos Angulo
Biology 2024, 13(7), 531; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13070531 - 17 Jul 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1290
Abstract
In recent decades, interest has been aroused worldwide in the use of silicon in nutrition; however, information on its effect on nutrition and metabolism of fish is limited. The objective of the research was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with organic [...] Read more.
In recent decades, interest has been aroused worldwide in the use of silicon in nutrition; however, information on its effect on nutrition and metabolism of fish is limited. The objective of the research was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with organic silicon on the growth performance, blood biochemistry, digestive enzymes, morphohistology and intestinal microbiota and stress resistance in hybrid Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus × Oreochromis niloticus). Methodologically, six levels of organic silicon (DOS) [control (0), 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 mg·kg−1] were used to feed juvenile fish (initial weight 7.51 ± 0.25 g) grown for eight weeks in 18 aquariums (15 fish/aquarium). The results indicated that growth performance showed differences (p < 0.05) for specific growth rate, feed conversion and survival. Triglycerides, cholesterol and glucose, transaminases and digestive enzymes were significantly influenced by DOS levels. The histological study confirmed that the administered diets did not cause damage and induced significant morphological changes in the proximal intestine. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis of the gut microbiota showed a high diversity and richness of OTU/Chao-1, with Fusobacteria, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes and Acidobacteria predominating in the DOS treatments compared to the control (p < 0.05). Induction of hypoxia stress after the feeding period showed a significant relative survival rate of 83.33% in fish fed 50 mg·kg−1. It is concluded that the DOS treatments performed better than the control treatment in most of the variables analysed. DOS had no negative effects on the fish. The results showed that up to 50 mg·kg−1 DOS improved digestive, metabolic and growth performance in hybrid Tilapia. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic and Stress Responses in Aquatic Animals)
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15 pages, 5078 KiB  
Article
Physiological Adaptation of Fenneropenaeus chinensis in Response to Saline–Alkaline Stress Revealed by a Combined Proteomics and Metabolomics Method
by Tian Gao, Qiong Wang, Huarui Sun, Yang Liu, Jitao Li and Yuying He
Biology 2024, 13(7), 488; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13070488 - 30 Jun 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 986
Abstract
The rapid development of the mariculture industry has been hindered by limited coastal aquaculture space. To utilize the abundant inland saline–alkaline water, we studied the physiological effects of high carbonate alkalinity stress and high pH stress on Fenneropenaeus chinensis. The study employed [...] Read more.
The rapid development of the mariculture industry has been hindered by limited coastal aquaculture space. To utilize the abundant inland saline–alkaline water, we studied the physiological effects of high carbonate alkalinity stress and high pH stress on Fenneropenaeus chinensis. The study employed quantitative proteomics by tandem mass tag (TMT) and non-targeted metabolomics analysis using a liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer (LC-MS) to understand the physiological and biochemical adaptive mechanisms of the hepatopancreas of F. chinensis in response to saline–alkaline stress at the molecular level. We designed two stress groups as follows: a high carbonate alkalinity (CA) group and a combined high carbonate alkalinity and high pH (CP) group. The study found that the protein and metabolic profiles of the two stress groups were changed, and the CP group, which was exposed to dual stresses, incurred more severe damage to the hepatopancreas compared to that of the CA group. After exposure to CA and CP, the hepatopancreas of F. chinensis showed significant alterations in 455 proteins and 50 metabolites, and 1988 proteins and 272 metabolites, respectively. In addition, F. chinensis upregulated the level of energy metabolism in the hepatopancreas to defend against osmotic imbalance caused by CA or CP stress, which was demonstrated by the significant upregulation of important proteins and metabolites in glycolysis, pyruvate metabolism, TCA cycle, and fatty acid oxidation. Additionally, pattern recognition receptors, the phenol oxidase system, and various immune-related metabolic enzymes and metabolites were also affected. The immune homeostasis of F. chinensis was affected by the alteration of the antioxidant system following exposure to CA or CP. These findings provide valuable information for F. chinensis saline–alkaline water cultivation practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic and Stress Responses in Aquatic Animals)
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17 pages, 1755 KiB  
Article
Dietary Tryptophan Plays a Role as an Anti-Inflammatory Agent in European Seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) Juveniles during Chronic Inflammation
by Rita Azeredo, Diogo Peixoto, Paulo Santos, Inês Duarte, Ana Ricardo, Cláudia Aragão, Marina Machado and Benjamín Costas
Biology 2024, 13(5), 309; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13050309 - 29 Apr 2024
Viewed by 1778
Abstract
Where teleost fish are concerned, studies in tryptophan immunomodulation generally point to immunosuppressive properties, thus presenting a potential anti-inflammatory dietary strategy. The goal of the present work was to evaluate the effects of tryptophan dietary supplementation on immune and neuroendocrine responses of the [...] Read more.
Where teleost fish are concerned, studies in tryptophan immunomodulation generally point to immunosuppressive properties, thus presenting a potential anti-inflammatory dietary strategy. The goal of the present work was to evaluate the effects of tryptophan dietary supplementation on immune and neuroendocrine responses of the European seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax, undergoing chronic inflammation. Juvenile European seabass were intraperitoneally injected with either Freund’s Incomplete Adjuvant (FIA, inflamed group) or a saline solution (control group). Within each group, fish were fed a control (CTRL) and a CTRL-based diet supplemented with tryptophan (0.3% DM basis; TRP) for 4 weeks. Different tissues were sampled every week for the assessment of immune-related parameters. When TRP was provided to FIA-injected fish, mcsfr gene expression increased from 1 to 2 weeks and remained high until the end of the experiment. The same fish showed a concurrent increase in peripheral monocyte counts. Moreover, il34 expression at 1 week post-FIA injection was higher in TRP-fed than in CTRL-fed fish. After one week, molecular patterns of anti-inflammatory processes seemed to be favoured by TRP (mcsfr, gr1, il34 and tgfβ). Altogether, the results show that the feeding period seems to be critical where tryptophan supplementation is concerned since at later inflammatory stages—and longer feeding periods—fish fed TRP displayed a molecular profile similar to that of the CTRL group. In contrast, shorter administration periods might accelerate immune regulatory pathways. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic and Stress Responses in Aquatic Animals)
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16 pages, 6494 KiB  
Article
Toxicity of Ammonia Stress on the Physiological Homeostasis in the Gills of Litopenaeus vannamei under Seawater and Low-Salinity Conditions
by Yuxiu Nan, Meng Xiao, Yafei Duan and Yukai Yang
Biology 2024, 13(4), 281; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13040281 - 21 Apr 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1780
Abstract
Ammonia is a major water quality factor influencing the survival and health of shrimp, among which the gill is the main effector organ for ammonia toxicity. In this study, we chose two types of Litopenaeus vannamei that were cultured in 30‰ seawater and [...] Read more.
Ammonia is a major water quality factor influencing the survival and health of shrimp, among which the gill is the main effector organ for ammonia toxicity. In this study, we chose two types of Litopenaeus vannamei that were cultured in 30‰ seawater and domesticated in 3‰ low salinity, respectively, and then separately subjected to ammonia stress for 14 days under seawater and low-salinity conditions, of which the 3‰ low salinity-cultured shrimp were domesticated from the shrimp cultured in 30‰ seawater after 27 days of gradual salinity desalination. In detail, this study included four groups, namely the SC group (ammonia-N 0 mg/L, salinity 30‰), SAN group (ammonia-N 10 mg/L, salinity 30‰), LC group (ammonia-N 0 mg/L, salinity 3‰), and LAN group (ammonia-N 10 mg/L, salinity 3‰). The ammonia stress lasted for 14 days, and then the changes in the morphological structure and physiological function of the gills were explored. The results show that ammonia stress caused the severe contraction of gill filaments and the deformation or even rupture of gill vessels. Biochemical indicators of oxidative stress, including LPO and MDA contents, as well as T-AOC and GST activities, were increased in the SAN and LAN groups, while the activities of CAT and POD and the mRNA expression levels of antioxidant-related genes (nrf2, cat, gpx, hsp70, and trx) were decreased. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of the genes involved in ER stress (ire1 and xbp1), apoptosis (casp-3, casp-9, and jnk), detoxification (gst, ugt, and sult), glucose metabolism (pdh, hk, pk, and ldh), and the tricarboxylic acid cycle (mdh, cs, idh, and odh) were decreased in the SAN and LAN groups; the levels of electron-transport chain-related genes (ndh, cco, and coi), and the bip and sdh genes were decreased in the SAN group but increased in the LAN group; and the level of the ATPase gene was decreased but the cytc gene was increased in the SAN and LAN groups. The mRNA expression levels of osmotic regulation-related genes (nka-β, ca, aqp and clc) were decreased in the SAN group, while the level of the ca gene was increased in the LAN group; the nka-α gene was decreased in both two groups. The results demonstrate that ammonia stress could influence the physiological homeostasis of the shrimp gills, possibly by damaging the tissue morphology, and affecting the redox, ER function, apoptosis, detoxification, energy metabolism, and osmoregulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic and Stress Responses in Aquatic Animals)
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15 pages, 2251 KiB  
Article
11-Deoxycorticosterone (DOC)’s Action on the Gill Osmoregulation of Juvenile Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)
by Rodrigo Zuloaga, Luciano Ahumada-Langer, Jorge Eduardo Aedo, Alfredo Molina and Juan Antonio Valdés
Biology 2024, 13(2), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology13020107 - 9 Feb 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1932
Abstract
In aquaculture, stress can negatively affect fish growth. For years, the cortisol hormone has been thought to play both glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid functions. Nevertheless, recent research has suggested that 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) released during stress could contribute to cortisol actions, though this process is [...] Read more.
In aquaculture, stress can negatively affect fish growth. For years, the cortisol hormone has been thought to play both glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid functions. Nevertheless, recent research has suggested that 11-deoxycorticosterone (DOC) released during stress could contribute to cortisol actions, though this process is still misunderstood. Here, we evaluated the DOC effects on physiological and early transcriptional responses by RNA-seq. Juvenile rainbow trout were treated with DOC and/or glucocorticoids (mifepristone) or mineralocorticoid (eplerenone) receptor antagonists. Subsequently, plasma was collected, and cDNA libraries were generated from the gills of vehicle (control), DOC, mifepristone, mifepristone with DOC, eplerenone, and eplerenone with DOC groups. Calcium and phosphate levels in plasma were changed. Results revealed 914 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) induced by DOC compared with control, mainly associated with sodium ion transmembrane transport, gluconeogenesis, negative regulation of transmembrane transport, and activation of innate immune response. DOC versus eplerenone with DOC comparison displayed 444 DETs related to cell-cell junction organization, canonical glycolysis, positive regulation of immune response, and potassium ion transport. Conversely, no DETs were detected in DOC versus mifepristone with DOC comparison. These data suggest that DOC has a relevant role in gill stress response and ion transport, which is differentially regulated by mineralocorticoid receptors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic and Stress Responses in Aquatic Animals)
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21 pages, 6319 KiB  
Article
Transcriptomics Reveal the Effects of Breeding Temperature on Growth and Metabolism in the Early Developmental Stage of Platax teira
by Ming-Jian Liu, Jie Gao, Hua-Yang Guo, Ke-Cheng Zhu, Bao-Suo Liu, Nan Zhang, Jin-Hui Sun and Dian-Chang Zhang
Biology 2023, 12(9), 1161; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology12091161 - 23 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1530
Abstract
The growth, development, and survival of fish, especially in the early stages of development, is influenced by a complex of environmental factors, among which temperature is one of the most important. Although the physiological effects of environmental stress in fish have been extensively [...] Read more.
The growth, development, and survival of fish, especially in the early stages of development, is influenced by a complex of environmental factors, among which temperature is one of the most important. Although the physiological effects of environmental stress in fish have been extensively studied, the molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. However, recent advances in transcriptomic techniques have facilitated the study of the molecular mechanisms of environmental stress responses in aquatic species. Here, we aimed to elucidate the effects of breeding temperatures (21, 24, 27, and 30 °C) on the growth and nutrient metabolism in the early developmental stage of Platax teira, using transcriptomic techniques. Transcriptomic analysis identified 5492, 6937, and 4246 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the 21 vs. 24 °C, 27 vs. 24 °C, and 30 vs. 24 °C comparisons, respectively, most of which were involved in cell processes, single organism, metabolism, catalytic activity, and cell part, based on gene ontology (GO) functional annotations. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis showed that the DEGs were mainly enriched in pathways related to metabolism of matter and energy, protein digestion and absorption, and glucose and lipid metabolism. Additionally, the expression of genes related to energy, lipid, and glucose metabolism in the fish liver was upregulated under a low-temperature condition (21 °C), although increasing the temperature within the acceptable threshold improved nutrient metabolism and growth in the fish. Meanwhile, nutrient metabolism and growth were suppressed by an extremely high temperature (30 °C) owing to oxidative stress. Overall, it was shown that nutrient metabolism pathways were involved in thermal stress responses in P. teira, and the optimal breeding temperature range was 24–27 °C. Through transcriptomics, the regulatory mechanism of larval development in P. teira under different growth temperatures was elucidated, with the goal of establishing a theoretical basis for industrial breeding. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolic and Stress Responses in Aquatic Animals)
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