Skin mucus proteome of gilthead sea bream: A non-invasive method to screen for welfare indicators

In teleosts, the skin mucus is the first physical barrier against physical and chemical attacks. It contains components related to metabolism, environmental influences and nutritional status. Here, we study mucus and composition based on a proteome map of soluble epidermal mucus proteins obtained by 2D-electrophoresis in gilthead sea bream, Sparus aurata. Over 1300 spots were recorded and the 100 most abundant were further analysed by LC-MS/MS and identified by database retrieval; we also established the related specific biological processes by Gene Ontology enrichment. Sixty-two different proteins were identified and classified in 12 GO-groups and into three main functions: structural, metabolic and protection-related. Several of the proteins can be used as targets to determine fish physiological status: actins and keratins, and especially their catabolic products, in the structural functional group; glycolytic enzymes and ubiquitin/proteasome-related proteins in the metabolic functional group; and heat shock proteins, transferrin and hemopexins, in the protection-related group. This study analyses fish mucus, a potential non-invasive tool for characterising fish status, beyond defence capacities, and we postulate some putative candidates for future studies along similar lines.

Cloning and molecular ontogeny of digestive enzymes in fed and food-deprived developing gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) larvae

We have determined the expression pattern of key pancreatic enzymes precursors (trypsinogen, try; chymotrypsinogen, ctrb; phospholipase A2, pla2; bile salt-activated lipase, cel; and α-amylase, amy2a) during the larval stage of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) up to 60days after hatching (dph). Previously, complete sequences of try, cel, and amy2a were cloned and phylogenetically analyzed. One new isoform was found for cel transcript (cel1b). Expression of all enzyme precursors was detected before the mouth opening. Expression of try and ctrb increased during the first days of development and then maintained high values with some fluctuations during the whole larval stage. The prolipases pla2 and cel1b increased from first-feeding with irregular fluctuation until the end of the experiment. Contrarily, cel1a maintained low expression values during most of the larval stage increasing at the end of the period. Nevertheless, cel1a expression was negligible as compared with cel1b. The expression of amy2a sharply increased during the first week followed by a gradual decrease. In addition, a food-deprivation experiment was performed to find the differences in relation to presence/absence of gut content after the opening of the mouth. The food-deprived larvae died at 10dph. The expression levels of all digestive enzymes increased up to 7dph, declining sharply afterwards. This expression pattern up to 7dph was the same observed in fed larvae, confirming the genetic programming during the early development. Main digestive enzymes in gilthead seabream larvae exhibited the same expression profiles than other marine fish with carnivorous preferences in their juvenile stages.

Implications for chronic toxicity of benzo[a]pyrene in sea bream cultured hepatocytes: Cytotoxicity, inflammation, and cancerogenesis

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is the most studied dangerous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon for its hepatotoxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, and immunosuppressant effects, which can affect both wild and farmed marine fish through the trophic chain. This study investigated, for the first time, the chronic effects induced in vitro by B[a]P prolonged exposure on gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) hepatocytes, evaluating the cellular and nuclear latent damage. The purpose was to characterize the kind of B[a]P cyto- and genotoxic damage by morphological and immunocytochemical parameters applied in combination with the use of multiple assay endpoints. In light of our results, the short-term effects at higher B[a]P doses were linked to higher cytotoxicities and necrotic lysis, whereas a sustained inflammatory response at medium-low doses was perceived as a mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, both by surface and nuclear morphological changes. The strong immunoreactivity for the cleaved caspase-3 showed that the labeled cells committed suicide by apoptosis. B[a]P involvement on carcinogenesis comes from prolonged exposure at lower doses, establishing the connection between the escape from apoptosis and the selection of a tumoral phenotype. Cells colabeled with proliferating cell nuclear antigen/caspase-3 within the proliferative foci, were proliferating transformed oval stem cells, which escaped the suicide by apoptosis allowing cancer development. Finally, it was established that sea bream cultured hepatocytes are highly sensitive to chronic B[a]P exposure, as serious genotoxic effects were found even at the lowest doses.

High diversity of skin-associated bacterial communities of marine fishes is promoted by their high variability among body parts, individuals and species

Animal-associated microbiotas form complex communities, which are suspected to play crucial functions for their host fitness. However, the biodiversity of these communities, including their differences between host species and individuals, has been scarcely studied, especially in case of skin-associated communities. In addition, the intraindividual variability (i.e. between body parts) has never been assessed to date. The objective of this study was to characterize skin bacterial communities of two teleostean fish species, namely the European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), using a high-throughput DNA sequencing method. In order to focus on intrinsic factors of host-associated bacterial community variability, individuals of the two species were raised in controlled conditions. Bacterial diversity was assessed using a set of four complementary indices, describing the taxonomic and phylogenetic facets of biodiversity and their respective composition (based on presence/absence data) and structure (based on species relative abundances) components. Variability of bacterial diversity was quantified at the interspecific, interindividual and intraindividual scales. We demonstrated that fish surfaces host highly diverse bacterial communities, whose composition was very different from that of surrounding bacterioplankton. This high total biodiversity of skin-associated communities was supported by the important variability, between host species, individuals and the different body parts (dorsal, anal, pectoral and caudal fins).

Vertebrae length and ultra-structure measurements of collagen fibrils and mineral content in the vertebrae of lordotic gilthead seabreams (Sparus aurata)

Skeletal deformities of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) are a major factor affecting the production cost, the external morphology and survival and growth of the fish. Adult individuals of S. aurata were collected from a commercial fish farm in Greece and were divided into two groups: one with the presence of lordosis, a skeletal deformity, and one without any skeletal deformity. Fishes were X-rayed, and cervical, abdominal and caudal vertebrae lengths were measured. Vertebrae were taken from the site of the vertebral column where lordosis occurred. One part was decalcified and prepared for collagen examination with transmission electron microscopy, and the rest were incinerated, and the Ca and P contents were measured. The stoichiometries of the samples were obtained by EDS (Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy). The same procedure was followed for fish without skeletal deformities (vertebrae were taken from the middle region of the vertebral column). The decalcified vertebrae parts were examined with TEM, collagen micrographs were taken and the fibrils' periods and diameters were measured. There were no significant differences for both Ca and P or the collagen fibrils' periods between the two fish groups. The mean lengths of the cervical, abdominal and caudal vertebrae where lordosis occurred were similar to the lengths of the respective regions of the individuals without the skeletal deformity. The TEM examination showed a significantly smaller mean vertebrae collagen fibril diameter from the fishes with lordosis compared with those from the controls, revealing the significance of collagen to bone structure.

Molecular identification of Hysterothylacium aduncum specimens isolated from commercially important fish species of Eastern Mediterranean Sea using mtDNA cox1 and ITS rDNA gene sequences

The presence of a Raphidascarid parasitic nematode Hysterothylacium aduncum (Rudolphi, 1802) in two sparid fish (Sparus aurata and Diplodus vulgaris) and one soleid fish (Solea solea) was investigated in this study. A total of 868 individuals; 385 S. aurata, 437 D. vulgaris and 46 S. solea were collected from the Mersin Bay between February 2013 and January 2014 and examined. Variations in the prevalence, mean intensity, and mean abundance of the parasite were 14.55%, 2.05, and 0.30 for S. aurata, 4.12%, 2.44, and 0.10 for D. vulgaris, and 15.22%, 3.29, and 0.50 for S. sole respectively. Nucleotide sequences of 1398 base pair long fragment of 18S rRNA-ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2-28S rRNA region and 641 base pair long fragment of mtDNA cytochrome c oxidase I (cox1) gene were used in molecular identification of isolated parasites at species level. All the parasite samples were identified as H. aduncum based on nucleotide sequence comparisons. Both ITS rDNA and mtDNA cox1 sequences revealed a genetic variation among H. aduncum specimens isolated from different fish species, while only mtDNA cox1 sequences were indicating a mean genetic distance of 0.010 among H. aduncum specimens of the same host species.

Cortisol modulates vasotocinergic and isotocinergic pathways in the gilthead sea bream

In the present study, we assessed the responses of the vasotocinergic and isotocinergic systems to chronic stress induced by cortisol administration in the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata). Pituitary and plasma arginine vasotocin (AVT) and isotocin (IT) levels, as well as hypothalamic pro-vasotocin (pro-VT) and pro-isotocin (pro-IT) mRNA expression levels, were analysed. In addition, the mRNA levels of three receptors, AVTR type V1a2, AVTR type V2 and ITR, were analysed in several target organs associated with the following physiological processes: (i) integration and control (hypothalamus), (ii) metabolism and its control (liver and hypothalamus), (iii) osmoregulation (gills) and (iv) stress response (head kidney). Specimens were injected intraperitoneally with slow-release implants (5 μL g(-1) body mass) containing coconut oil alone (control group) or with cortisol (50 μg g(-1) body mass; cortisol group). Both AVT and IT synthesis and release were correlated with plasma cortisol values, suggesting a potential interaction between both hormonal systems and cortisol administration. Our results suggest that the activation of hepatic metabolism as well as the hypothalamic control of metabolic processes provide the energy necessary to overcome stress, which could be partly mediated by AVTRs and ITR. Upregulation of branchial AVT and IT receptor expression following cortisol treatment suggests an involvement of the vasotocinergic and isotocinergic systems in the regulation of ion channels/transporters during stressful situations. Finally, changes in AVT and IT receptor mRNA expression in the head kidney suggest these nonapeptides participate in feedback mechanisms that regulate the synthesis/release of cortisol. Our results indicate a relationship between cortisol and both the vasotocinergic and isotocinergic systems during simulated chronic stress in S. aurata.

Development and application of a real-time PCR assay for the detection and quantitation of lymphocystis disease virus

Lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) is responsible for a chronic self-limiting disease that affects more than 125 teleosts. Viral isolation of LCDV is difficult, time-consuming and often ineffective; the development of a rapid and specific tool to detect and quantify LCDV is desirable for both diagnosis and pathogenic studies. In this study, a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assay was developed using a Sybr-Green-based assay targeting a highly conserved region of the MCP gene. Primers were designed on a multiple alignment that included all known LCDV genotypes. The viral DNA segment was cloned within a plasmid to generate a standard curve. The limit of detection was as low as 2.6DNA copies/μl of plasmid and the qPCR was able to detect viral DNA from cell culture lysates and tissues at levels ten-times lower than conventional PCR. Both gilthead seabream and olive flounder LCDV has been amplified, and an in silico assay showed that LCDV of all genotypes can be amplified. LCDV was detected in target and non-target tissues of both diseased and asymptomatic fish. The LCDV qPCR assay developed in this study is highly sensitive, specific, reproducible and versatile for the detection and quantitation of Lymphocystivirus, and may also be used for asymptomatic carrier detection or pathogenesis studies of different LCDV strains.

Genotoxic damage of benzo[a]pyrene in cultured sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) hepatocytes: harmful effects of chronic exposure

The large majority of studies on the genotoxic hazard of PAHs polluted water widely applied the ENA assay as versatile tool in large number of wild and farmed aquatic species. Nuclear abnormalities are commonly considered to be a direct consequence of genotoxic lesions in DNA macromolecule, and such evaluation might be helpful in identifying the genotoxic damage induced by the most harmful PAHs such as B[a]P. Regarding at the fish species subjected to aquaculture, most of the toxicological data come from wild fish and mainly focus on freshwater fish, but very little is known for other marine major aquacultured species. The gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) is the most economically important sparid species cultured along the Mediterranean costs, and it has been proved a very sensitive species to acute B[a]P exposure. However, further investigation is needed on several other types of genotoxic assessments, especially for chronic effects. This work was totally based on an in vitro model for chronic toxicity, using long-term S. aurata hepatocytes in primary culture, continuously exposed to low levels of BaP, over a prolonged period of time, to provide evidences for latent toxicity response. We aimed to investigate the kind of nuclear damage in gilthead sea bream hepatocytes continuously exposed to B[a]P sublethal doses. Cells were exposed to several B[a]P concentrations (10 μg/mL, 1 μg/mL, 1 ng/mL, 1 pg/mL) for two exposure times (24 and 72 h), and then tested both for apoptosis induction and for nuclear abnormalities by immunofluorescence analysis. The presence of severe nuclear damage, revealed cells progressing towards abnormal genotypes, due to a series of aberrant mitosis followed by unequal distribution of chromosomal content. The nuclear atypia (NA) more frequently observed were: a) micronuclei (MN); b) nuclear buds or blebs (NBUDs); c) notched nuclei; d) lobed nuclei; e) nuclei with nucleoplasmic bridge (NPBs); f) nuclei squashed, with a residual nuclear membrane; g) open nuclei, with membrane tape unrolled; and h) apoptotic bodies. Our results showed at medium-low doses a sustained genotoxic response, whose potency increased with the exposure time, becoming apparent as apoptosis induction, both by cell surface and nuclear changes. At the lowest doses, the longer was B[a]P exposure, greater was the involvement on masses of replicating cells, establishing the connection between the escape from apoptosis and the selection of tumoral cell evolution. In view of these results, there is no evidence of a threshold dose below which B[a]P was found not to be genotoxic in sea bream cultured hepatocytes.

IGF-I and amino acids effects through TOR signaling on proliferation and differentiation of gilthead sea bream cultured myocytes

Skeletal muscle growth and development is controlled by nutritional (amino acids, AA) as well as hormonal factors (insulin-like growth factor, IGF-I); however, how its interaction modulates muscle mass in fish is not clearly elucidated. The purpose of this study was to analyze the development of gilthead sea bream cultured myocytes to describe the effects of AA and IGF-I on proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) expression, as well as on the transduction pathways involved in its signaling (TOR/AKT). Our results showed that AA and IGF-I separately increased the number of PCNA-positive cells and, together produced a synergistic effect. Furthermore, AA and IGF-I, combined or separately, increased significantly Myogenin protein expression, whereas MyoD was not affected. These results indicate a role for these factors in myocyte proliferation and differentiation. At the mRNA level, AA significantly enhanced PCNA expression, but no effects were observed on the expression of the MRFs or AKT2 and FOXO3 upon treatment. Nonetheless, we demonstrated for the first time in gilthead sea bream that AA significantly increased the gene expression of TOR and its downstream effectors 4EBP1 and 70S6K, with IGF-I having a supporting role on 4EBP1 up-regulation. Moreover, AA and IGF-I also activated TOR and AKT by phosphorylation, respectively, being this activation decreased by specific inhibitors. In summary, the present study demonstrates the importance of TOR signaling on the stimulatory role of AA and IGF-I in gilthead sea bream myogenesis and contributes to better understand the potential regulation of muscle growth and development in fish.

Lipopolysaccharides isolated from Aeromonas salmonicida and Vibrio anguillarum show quantitative but not qualitative differences in inflammatory outcome in Sparus aurata (Gilthead seabream)

In fish, the defence system recognises pathogenic microorganisms via pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs) that sense particular structures of the pathogens; the so-called pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPSs). The result of the PAMP-PRR interactions leads to complex and orchestrated immune responses. In this study, Sparus aurata (Gilthead seabream) were intraperitoneally injected with purified lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Aeromonas salmonicida (As)- and Vibrio anguillarum (Va) (1 mg*Kgfish(-1)), both Gram negative bacteria responsible for vibriosis and furunculosis respectively, therefore causing an impact upon marine fish cultures. Head-kidney, intestine, spleen, liver and blood samples were collected at 3, 6, 12 and 24 h post-injection. Plasma levels of cortisol, prostaglandins and lactate were measured and were significantly increased after As-LPS and Va-LPS treatment. Furthermore, tissue-specific differences of the gene regulatory patterns were evident for each LPS. When monocyte/macrophage cell cultures were challenged with As-LPS and Va-LPS, the pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA abundances present a similar pattern of response. However, As-LPS always triggered a stronger response concerning TNFα, IL1β and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) mRNA abundance as well as PGE2 levels in the supernatant. Overall, the results indicate that specific LPSs do not activate different pro-inflammatory responses and that the observed gene expression pattern is tissue and concentration dependent.

Effect of feeding frequency on the daily rhythms of acidic digestion in a teleost fish (gilthead seabream)

Gilthead seabream is a fish species of great importance in Mediterranean aquaculture, attracting many studies on nutrition and chronobiology, although nothing is known about the effect of feeding frequency on the daily rhythms of the gastric digestion process. In this article, we investigated daily rhythms in stomach fullness, gastric and intestine pH, as well as pepsin activity and expression of pepsinogen and proton pump in juvenile fish under three different feeding protocols: (A) one daily meal at 9:00, (B) two daily meals at 9:00 and 17:00 and (C) continuous feeding during the daytime. The results revealed that feeding protocol affected significantly the rhythm of gastric pH and the pepsin activity pattern. The gastric pH exhibited significant daily rhythms in the three cases with the acrophase located at night in the regimes A and B and during daytime, in the regime C. In the regimes A and B, the pepsin activity peaked few hours after the meals, although the afternoon meal in B produced a higher peak. In the regime C, the peak occurred in the middle of the feeding period. Lowest total pepsin activity was observed in regime A, and the highest activity with the regime C. In contrast, the pepsinogen gene expression remained low along the daily cycle, with an expression peak just before or after the morning meal in regimes A and C, respectively. The proton pump gene expression was also practically constant with a peak right after the morning meal in the regime C. On the other hand, intestinal pH showed a postprandial increase after the first morning meal in all the three treatments, recovering the resting values in the dark period. Two meals and continuous feeding allowed a better and prolonged gastric digestion and consequently the juveniles exhibited better growth with the same daily ration of food. In short, while the gastric digestion pattern is mainly driven by pH changes induced by the time of food ingestion, the regulation of the intestinal digestion seems to be more independent of the feeding protocol.

Dietary differences are reflected on the gut prokaryotic community structure of wild and commercially reared sea bream (Sparus aurata)

We compared the gut prokaryotic communities in wild, organically-, and conventionally reared sea bream (Sparus aurata) individuals. Gut microbial communities were identified using tag pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA genes. There were distinct prokaryotic communities in the three different fish nutritional treatments, with the bacteria dominating over the Archaea. Most of the Bacteria belonged to the Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes. The number of bacterial operational taxonomic units (OTUs) was reduced from the wild to the conventionally reared fish, implying a response of the gut microorganisms to the supplied food and possibly alterations in food assimilation. The dominant bacterial OTU in all examined fish was closely related to the genus Diaphorobacter. This is the first time that a member of the β-Proteobacteria, which dominate in freshwaters, are so important in a marine fish gut. In total the majority of the few Archaea OTUs found, were related to methane metabolism. The inferred physiological roles of the dominant prokaryotes are related to the metabolism of carbohydrates and nitrogenous compounds. This study showed the responsive feature of the sea bream gut prokaryotic communities to their diets and also the differences of the conventional in comparison to the organic and wild sea bream gut microbiota.

Farming-up coastal fish assemblages through a massive aquaculture escape event

We investigated the changes on the mean trophic level of fish assemblages across different spatiotemporal scales, before and after a massive escape event occurred off La Palma (Canary Islands), which resulted in the release of 1.5 million fish (mostly Dicentrarchus labrax) into the wild. The presence of escaped fish altered significantly the mean trophic level of fish assemblages in shallow coastal waters. This alteration was exacerbated by the massive escape. A nearby marine protected area buffered the changes in mean trophic level but exhibited the same temporal patterns as highly fished areas. Moreover, escaped fish exploited natural resources according to their total length and possibly, time since escapement. New concerns arise as a "farming up" process is detected in shallow coastal fish assemblages where marine aquaculture is established.

Cloning and characterization of the Mx1, Mx2 and Mx3 promoters from gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)

Mx proteins are main effectors of the antiviral innate immune response mediated by type I interferon (IFN I). Actually, diverse Mx proteins from fish proved highly active against fish viruses, standing out among them the Mx1, Mx2 and Mx3 from gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), a species exhibiting a natural resistance to viral diseases. In this study, the structure and functional activity of their corresponding promoters (pMx1, pMx2 and pMx3) have been assessed. The three promoters present an identical 3' region of 157 bp, exhibiting a single canonical interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE), which is indispensible for the poli:IC induction of pMx1 and pMx3, while not for that of pMx2. In the remaining part of the three promoters other regulatory motifs were identified, as gamma IFN activated sites in variable number (1, 4 and 2 in pMx1, pMx2 and pMx3, respectively), as well as several independent GAAA elements or ISRE core sequences (13, 15 and 12 in pMx1, pMx2 and pMx3, respectively). The structural dissimilarities shown by the three promoters parallels with the differences observed in their response profiles, in terms of the time course of the induction, and basal and induced expression levels of each promoter. Altogether, these findings indicate that the expression of Mx1, Mx2 and Mx3 genes from the gilthead seabream might be specifically regulated, in accordance with the functional role of each Mx protein in the successful antiviral response shown by this species.

Interleukin gene expression is strongly modulated at the local level in a fish-parasite model

The goal of this work was to identify interleukin (IL)-related genes in the gilthead sea bream (GSB) (Sparus aurata L.) and how they are modulated by the parasite Enteromyxum leei, a myxozoan that causes severe enteritis with a strong inflammatory response. A Blast-X search of our transcriptomic GSB database (www.nutrigroup-iats.org/seabreamdb) identified 16 new sequences encompassing seven ILs (IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12β, IL-15, IL-18, and IL-34), the interleukin enhancer-binding factor 2 (ILF2), and eight IL receptors (IL-R); IL-R1, IL-6RA, IL-6RB, IL-8RA, IL-10RA, IL-10RB, IL-18R1, and IL-22R. Except for ILF2, their expression, plus that of IL-1β, IL-1R2, IL-6, and TNF-α (from public repositories), were analysed by 96-well PCR array of samples of blood, spleen, head kidney, and intestine of GSB that were anally intubated with E. leei (recipient group, RCPT). Only the expression profile of the intestine of RCPT fish showed significant difference as compared to samples from PBS-inoculated fish. At 17 days post intubation (dpi), the expression of key pro-inflammatory ILs, such as IL-8, IL-8R, IL-12β, and TNFα was significantly up-regulated, whereas at 64 dpi, anti-inflammatory IL expression (IL-6, IL-6RB, IL-7, IL-10, IL-10RA, and IL-15) was predominant. These results indicate a modification of the IL expression at late times post infection, probably to protect the fish intestine from the parasite and damage inflicted by an excessive inflammatory response. Furthermore, the response is mainly mediated at the local level as no significant changes were detected in blood, spleen and head kidney.

Circadian rhythms of gene expression of lipid metabolism in Gilthead Sea bream liver: synchronisation to light and feeding time

This research aimed at investigating circadian rhythm expression of key genes involved in lipid metabolism in the liver of a teleost fish (Sparus aurata), and their synchronisation to different light-dark (L-D) and feeding cycles. To this end, 90 gilthead sea bream were kept in 12:12 h (light:dark, LD, lights on at ZT0) and fed a single daily meal at mid-light (ML = ZT6), mid-darkness (MD = ZT18) and randomly (RD) at a 1.5% body weight ration. A total of 18 tanks were used, six tanks per feeding treatment with five fishes per tank; locomotor activity was recorded in each tank. After 25 days of synchronisation to these feeding regimes, fishes were fasted for one day and liver samples were taken every 4 hours during a 24 h cycle (ZT2, 6, 10, 14, 18 and 22) and stored at -80 °C until analysis. To determine whether the rhythm expression presented an endogenous control, another experiment was performed using 30 fish kept in complete darkness and fed randomly (DD/RD). Samples were taken following the same procedure as above. The results revealed that all genes investigated exhibited well defined daily rhythms. The lipolysis-related and fatty acid turnover genes (hormone-sensitive lipase (hsl) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (pparα)) exhibited a nocturnal achrophase (Ø = ZT18:03-19:21); lipoprotein lipase (lpl) also showed the same nocturnal achrophase (Ø = ZT20:04-21:36). In contrast, lipogenesis-related gene, fatty acid synthase (fas), and of fatty acid turnover, cyclooxygenase (cox-2), showed a diurnal rhythm (Ø = ZT2:27-8:09); while pparγ was nocturnal (Ø = ZT16:16-18:05). Curiously, feeding time had little influence on the phase of these daily rhythms, since all feeding groups displayed similar achrophases. Furthermore, under constant conditions pparα and hsl showed circadian rhythmicity. These findings suggest that lipid utilisation in the liver is rhythmic and strongly synchronised to the LD cycle, regardless of feeding time, which should be taken into consideration when investigating fish nutrition and the design of feeding protocols.

Variations in the expression of vasotocin and isotocin receptor genes in the gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata during different osmotic challenges

The dynamic changes in mRNA expression levels for vasotocin (AVT) and isotocin (IT) receptor gene levels were assessed in a time-course response study in immature male specimens of the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) submitted to hyper- (55‰ salinity) and hypo-osmotic (5‰ salinity) challenges. Two different cDNAs for the AVT receptor and one for the IT receptor (V1a2-type and V2-type AVTR, and ITR, respectively) were cloned by screening an S. aurata brain cDNA library. Genes for these receptors were expressed differentially and is nearly ubiquitously in 26 of the examined tissues. In the gills, both environmental salinity challenges up-regulated AVTR V1a2-type gene expression concomitantly with mRNA expression protein activity of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase gene expression and protein, whereas the AVTR V2-type and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mRNA levels were associated with mRNAs environmental salinity, indicating a possible connection between AVTRs and these transporters. In kidney, AVTR V1a2-type gene expression peaked rapidly and lasted only a short time (12-24h) in response to both osmotic challenges. In contrast, AVTR V2-type mRNA levels were enhanced in specimens exposed to hyperosmotic conditions, whereas they decreased under hypoosmotic environments, suggesting an antidiuretic role related to the vasoconstriction function. In the hypothalamus, only the expression of the AVTR V2-type gene was enhanced at 7 and 14 days under both experimental conditions. In the liver, both AVTRs had increased mRNA levels, with the upregulation of their AVTR V2-type gene increasing faster than the V1a2-type. The ITR gene was not sensitive to variations of external salinity in any of the analyzed tissues. Our results demonstrate the involvement of the vasotocinergic, but not the isotocinergic, pathway as well as the hypothalamic function, in the adjustments of both osmoregulatory and metabolic processes after osmotic challenges.

Effects of environmental enrichment on growth, aggressive behaviour and brain monoamines of gilthead seabream Sparus aurata reared under different social conditions

The presence of blue or red-brown substrate on the tank bottom has been previously reported as an efficient means of environmental enrichment for gilthead seabream. The present study aimed to investigate whether this enrichment is still beneficial when gilthead seabream is reared under different social conditions (i.e. a lower 4.9 kg m(-3) and a higher 9.7 kg m(-3) density). Water exchange was adjusted according to fish biomass to exclude density effects on water quality. In the enriched tanks single-colour glass gravel was used as substrate (blue and red-brown substrate, or BS and RBS respectively), while control tanks had no gravel. Growth, aggressive behaviour and size distribution results indicated that the lower density created a less favourable social environment. In both densities studied, BS enhanced growth, suppressed aggression and reduced brain serotonergic activity. In the condition of intense social interactions (i.e. the lower density) BS also reduced brain dopaminergic activity. These results along with the negative correlations observed between brain monoamines and fish body mass, indicated that substrate and density effects are socially-induced. However, there may be several biotic and/or abiotic factors interfering with substrate effects that should be investigated before the practical use of a substrate in land-based intensive aquaculture.

In vitro characterization of acid secretion in the gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) stomach

The gastric acid secretion of juvenile Sparus aurata was characterized in Ussing chambers; secretion rates were determined by a pH-stat method at pH5.50 and bioelectrical parameters were measured in current-clamped tissues. The basal secretion equaled to 535±87nmol·cm(-2)·h(-1). Serosal carbachol 100μM produced an increase (ΔJH(+)) of 725±133nmol·cm(-2)·h(-1) from basal secretion, this effect being inhibited by mucosal omeprazole 100μM. Basal secretion was also sensitive to the combination of serosal forskolin (FK) 10μM+serosal isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) 100μM (ΔJH(+)=793±239nmol·cm(-2)·h(-1)); this effect was insensitive to mucosal omeprazole 100mM but inhibited by mucosal bafilomycin A1 100nM. The effect of carbachol proceeded within a few minutes (<10min), whereas the effect of FK+IBMX was gradual, taking 40min to reach the maximum. The addition of mucosal gadolinium (Gd(3+)) 100μM, a potent calcium-sensing receptor (CaR) agonist, stimulated the basal secretion (ΔJH(+)=340±81nmol·cm(-2)·h(-1)). The present results indicate that the acid secretion mechanism in the sea bream stomach is regulated by muscarinic and CaR-like receptors, cAMP is implicated in the signal transduction, and at least two proton pumps, a HK-ATPase and a V-ATPase contribute to acid secretion.

Toxic effects of domoic acid in the seabream Sparus aurata

Neurotoxicity induced in fish by domoic acid (DA) was assessed with respect to occurrence of neurotoxic signs, lethality, and histopathology by light microscopy. Sparus aurata were exposed to a single dose of DA by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 0, 0.45, 0.9, and 9.0 mg DA kg(-1) bw. Mortality (66.67 ± 16.67%) was only observed in dose of 9.0 mg kg(-1) bw. Signs of neurological toxicity were detected for the doses of 0.9 and 9.0 mg DA kg(-1) bw. Furthermore, the mean concentrations (±SD) of DA detected by HPLC-UV in extracts of brain after exposure to 9.0 mg DA kg(-1) bw were 0.61 ± 0.01, 0.96 ± 0.00, and 0.36 ± 0.01 mg DA kg(-1) tissue at 1, 2, and 4 hours. The lack of major permanent brain damage in S. aurata, and reversibility of neurotoxic signs, suggest that lower susceptibility to DA or neuronal recovery occurs in affected individuals.

Quantitative trait loci for resistance to fish pasteurellosis in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

Fish pasteurellosis is a bacterial disease causing important losses in farmed fish, including gilthead sea bream, a teleost fish of great relevance in marine aquaculture. We report in this study a QTL analysis for resistance to fish pasteurellosis in this species. An experimental population of 500 offspring originating from eight sires and six dams in a single mass-spawning event was subjected to a disease challenge with Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida (Phdp), the causative agent of fish pasteurellosis. A total of 151 microsatellite loci were genotyped in the experimental population, and half-sib regression QTL analysis was carried out on two continuous traits, body length at time of death and survival, and for two binary traits, survival at day 7 and survival at day 15, when the highest peaks of mortality were observed. Two significant QTLs were detected for disease resistance. The first one was located on linkage group LG3 affecting late survival (survival at day 15). The second one, for overall survival, was located on LG21, which allowed us to highlight a potential marker (Id13) linked to disease resistance. A significant QTL was also found for body length at death on LG6 explaining 5-8% of the phenotypic variation.