Thermal imprinting during embryogenesis modifies skin repair in juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax).

Fish skin is a multifunctional tissue that develops during embryogenesis, a developmental stage highly susceptible to epigenetic marks. In this study, the impact of egg incubation temperature on the regeneration of a cutaneous wound caused by scale removal in juvenile European sea bass was evaluated. Sea bass eggs were incubated at 11, 13.5 and 16 °C until hatching and then were reared at a common temperature until 9 months when the skin was damaged and sampled at 0, 1 and 3 days after scale removal and compared to the intact skin from the other flank. Skin damage elicited an immediate significant (p < 0.001) up-regulation of pcna in fish from eggs incubated at higher temperatures. In fish from eggs incubated at 11 °C there was a significant (p < 0.001) up-regulation of krt2 compared to fish from higher thermal backgrounds 1 day after skin damage. Damaged epidermis was regenerated after 3 days in all fish irrespective of the thermal background, but in fish from eggs incubated at 11 °C the epidermis was significantly (p < 0.01) thinner compared to other groups, had less goblet cells and less melanomacrophages. The thickness of the dermis increased during regeneration of wounded skin irrespective of the thermal background and by 3 days was significantly (p < 0.01) thicker than the dermis from the intact flank. The expression of genes for ECM remodelling (mmp9, colXα, col1α1, sparc, and angptl2b) and innate immunity (lyg1, lalba, sod1, csf-1r and pparγ) changed during regeneration but were not affected by egg thermal regime. Overall, the results indicate that thermal imprinting of eggs modifies the damage-repair response in juvenile sea bass skin.

Transcriptome datasets and histological profiles of critical larval stages in gilthead seabream.

The transcriptome of the seabream larvae farmed in different European commercial hatcheries was analysed during critical larval stages. The complementary data herein presented support the findings reported in the associated research article "Insights into core molecular changes associated with metamorphosis in gilthead seabream larvae across diverse hatcheries". Samples were collected from gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) hatcheries in Greece (site Gr), Italy (site It), and France (site Fr). RNA was extracted from larvae with different weights, mainly at the flexion (23 and 25 dph) and mid-metamorphosis stages (43, 50, 52, 56, and 60 dph). RNA-seq libraries were sequenced using Illumina HiSeq xten. The paired-end sequenced raw reads were deposited in the NCBI-SRA database with the accession number PRJNA956882. Differential expression and function of genes were obtained by comparing transcriptome profiles of larvae at different developmental stages. The presented data can be used to improve marine-farmed fish larvae production during critical larval stages.

Gill transcriptome response to changes in environmental calcium in the green spotted puffer fish.

BACKGROUND: Calcium ion is tightly regulated in body fluids and for euryhaline fish, which are exposed to rapid changes in environmental [Ca2+], homeostasis is especially challenging. The gill is the main organ of active calcium uptake and therefore plays a crucial role in the maintenance of calcium ion homeostasis. To study the molecular basis of the short-term responses to changing calcium availability, the whole gill transcriptome obtained by Super Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SuperSAGE) of the euryhaline teleost green spotted puffer fish, Tetraodon nigroviridis, exposed to water with altered [Ca2+] was analysed. RESULTS: Transfer of T. nigroviridis from 10 ppt water salinity containing 2.9 mM Ca2+ to high (10 mM Ca2+ ) and low (0.01 mM Ca2+) calcium water of similar salinity for 2-12 h resulted in 1,339 differentially expressed SuperSAGE tags (26-bp transcript identifiers) in gills. Of these 869 tags (65%) were mapped to T. nigroviridis cDNAs or genomic DNA and 497 (57%) were assigned to known proteins. Thirteen percent of the genes matched multiple tags indicating alternative RNA transcripts. The main enriched gene ontology groups belong to Ca2+ signaling/homeostasis but also muscle contraction, cytoskeleton, energy production/homeostasis and tissue remodeling. K-means clustering identified co-expressed transcripts with distinct patterns in response to water [Ca2+] and exposure time. CONCLUSIONS: The generated transcript expression patterns provide a framework of novel water calcium-responsive genes in the gill during the initial response after transfer to different [Ca2+]. This molecular response entails initial perception of alterations, activation of signaling networks and effectors and suggests active remodeling of cytoskeletal proteins during the initial acclimation process. Genes related to energy production and energy homeostasis are also up-regulated, probably reflecting the increased energetic needs of the acclimation response. This study is the first genome-wide transcriptome analysis of fish gills and is an important resource for future research on the short-term mechanisms involved in the gill acclimation responses to environmental Ca2+ changes and osmoregulation.

Male urine signals social rank in the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus).

BACKGROUND: The urine of freshwater fish species investigated so far acts as a vehicle for reproductive pheromones affecting the behaviour and physiology of the opposite sex. However, the role of urinary pheromones in intra-sexual competition has received less attention. This is particularly relevant in lek-breeding species, such as the Mozambique tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), where males establish dominance hierarchies and there is the possibility for chemical communication in the modulation of aggression among males. To investigate whether males use urine during aggressive interactions, we measured urination frequency of dye-injected males during paired interactions between size-matched males. Furthermore, we assessed urinary volume stored in the bladder of males in a stable social hierarchy and the olfactory potency of their urine by recording of the electro-olfactogram. RESULTS: Males released urine in pulses of short duration (about one second) and markedly increased urination frequency during aggressive behaviour, but did not release urine whilst submissive. In the stable hierarchy, subordinate males stored less urine than males of higher social rank; the olfactory potency of the urine was positively correlated with the rank of the male donor. CONCLUSION: Dominant males store urine and use it as a vehicle for odorants actively released during aggressive disputes. The olfactory potency of the urine is positively correlated with the social status of the male. We suggest that males actively advertise their dominant status through urinary odorants which may act as a 'dominance' pheromone to modulate aggression in rivals, thereby contributing to social stability within the lek.

Do cleaning organisms reduce the stress response of client reef fish?

BACKGROUND: Marine cleaning interactions in which cleaner fish or shrimps remove parasites from visiting 'client' reef fish are a textbook example of mutualism. However, there is yet no conclusive evidence that cleaning organisms significantly improve the health of their clients. We tested the stress response of wild caught individuals of two client species, Chromis dimidiata and Pseudanthias squamipinnis, that had either access to a cleaner wrasse Labroides dimidiatus, or to cleaner shrimps Stenopus hispidus and Periclimenes longicarpus, or no access to cleaning organisms. RESULTS: For both client species, we found an association between the presence of cleaner organisms and a reduction in the short term stress response of client fish to capture, transport and one hour confinement in small aquaria, as measured with cortisol levels. CONCLUSION: It is conceivable that individuals who are more easily stressed than others pay a fitness cost in the long run. Thus, our data suggest that marine cleaning mutualisms are indeed mutualistic. More generally, measures of stress responses or basal levels may provide a useful tool to assess the impact of interspecific interactions on the partner species.

Isolation and characterization of piscine osteonectin and downregulation of its expression by PTH-related protein.

UNLABELLED: The skeleton is the main source of osteonectin mRNA in adults of the seawater teleost sea bream Sparus auratus. It is expressed by cells forming the basement membrane of calcifying tissue indicating that, as in mammals, it may play a role in osteoblast differentiation. PTHrP induced downregulation of osteonectin mRNA in vitro in scales, a mineralizing tissue with bone-like metabolism. This indicates a means to redirect calcium to activities such as vitellogenesis when this ion is in high demand. INTRODUCTION: Osteonectin is a unique matricellular calcium-binding glycoprotein and a major noncollagenous constituent of higher eukaryote bone. In terrestrial vertebrates, it has been associated with development, remodeling, cell turnover, and tissue repair, all processes involving substantial changes in extracellular matrix (ECM) structure. In skeleton biology, osteonectin has been described as a positive factor in the mineralization process as well as in osteoblastic cell lineage differentiation and is downregulated by the hypercalcemic hormone PTH. In this study, we report the cloning and characterization of bream S. auratus osteonectin cDNA and its tissue and cellular distribution. Its high expression by fish scales provides a unique in vitro bioassay with which to study regulation of osteonectin gene expression by the recently isolated piscine PTH-related peptide (PTHrP). MATERIALS AND METHODS: An intervertebral tissue cDNA library from S. auratus was the source of the full-length cDNA clone for osteonectin. Expression studies were performed by semiquantitative RT-PCR, Northern blot, and in situ hybridization analysis. Moreover, an in vitro bioassay with S. auratus scales was specifically developed for measuring the effect of PTHrP on osteonectin expression. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Phylogenetic analysis showed that S. auratus osteonectin is highly homologous with previously reported osteonectins, supporting the idea of a conserved function for this protein in the ECM. Its expression pattern in adult tissues from S. auratus was markedly biased toward skeletal structures of both dermal or endochondral origin. More specifically, the localization of the osteonectin mRNA in the basement membrane that separates the epithelia from the underlying mineralized connective tissue supports a role for this protein in calcified matrix turnover. Furthermore, the recently identified piscine hypercalcemic factor PTHrP downregulates osteonectin expression in scales, suggesting a catabolic action for this hormone on these structures.