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Moran CJ, Coughlin DJ, Jebb KE, Travitz L, Gerry SP. Impacts of thermal acclimatization on fish skeletal muscle. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2023; 280:111409. [PMID: 36804533 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.111409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023]
Abstract
Thermal acclimation allows ectotherms to maintain physiological homeostasis while occupying habitats with constantly changing temperatures. This process is especially important in skeletal muscle which powers most movements necessary for life. We aimed to understand how fish skeletal muscle is impacted by acclimatization in the laboratory. To accomplish this, we compared muscle contraction kinetics of four-week lab acclimatized fish (at 20 °C) to fish taken directly from the field when sea surface temperatures were similar to lab treatment temperature (ocean temperature ranged from 17.7 to 19.9 °C in the four weeks prior to collection at 20 °C). To examine these effects, we chose to study tautog (Tautoga onitis) and cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus) from Long Island Sound. We found that timing of contraction kinetics in cunner and tautog did not differ from the lab acclimatized and field acclimatized groups. However, lab acclimatized cunner produced greater contraction force than fish taken directly from the field. This increased force production allowed lab acclimatized cunner to produce greater power when compared to cunner from the field treatment. Furthermore, laboratory acclimatized cunner did not express any slow myosin heavy chain, suggesting that their muscle had transitioned to mostly fast twitch fibers after being held at a constant temperature in the lab. None of these effects were seen in tautog. In this work we highlight the importance of considering the impacts laboratory conditions have on experimental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clinton J Moran
- The Citadel Biology Department, The Citadel, 171 Moultrie St., Charleston, SC, 29409, USA.
| | - David J Coughlin
- Department of Biology, Widener University, One University Place, Chester, PA 19013, USA.
| | - Kamryn E Jebb
- Department of Biology, Fairfield University, 1073 N Benson Rd., Fairfield, CT 06824, USA
| | - Leksi Travitz
- Department of Biology, Widener University, One University Place, Chester, PA 19013, USA
| | - Shannon P Gerry
- Department of Biology, Fairfield University, 1073 N Benson Rd., Fairfield, CT 06824, USA.
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Thermal acclimation in brook trout myotomal muscle varies with fiber type and age. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2023; 276:111354. [PMID: 36464087 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.111354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
As climate change alters the thermal environment of the planet, interest has grown in how animals may mitigate the impact of a changing environment on physiological function. Thermal acclimation to a warm environment may, for instance, blunt the impact of a warming environment on metabolism by allowing a fish to shift to slower isoforms of functionally significant proteins such as myosin heavy chain. The thermal acclimation of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) was examined by comparing swimming performance, myotomal muscle contraction kinetics and muscle histology in groups of fish acclimated to 4, 10 and 20 °C. Brook trout show a significant acclimation response in their maximum aerobic swimming performance (Ucrit), with acclimation to warm water leading to lower Ucrit values. Maximum muscle shortening velocity (Vmax) decreased significantly with warm acclimation for both red or slow-twitch and white or fast-twitch muscle. Immunohistochemical analysis of myotomal muscle suggests changes in myosin expression underly the thermal acclimation of swimming performance and contraction kinetics. Physiological and histological data suggest a robust acclimation response to a warming environment, one that would reduce the added metabolic costs incurred by an ectotherm when environmental temperature rises for sustained periods of time.
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Gabler-Smith MK, Coughlin DJ, Fish FE. Morphological and histochemical characterization of the pectoral fin muscle of batoids. J Morphol 2023; 284:e21548. [PMID: 36538574 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Batoids differ from other elasmobranch fishes in that they possess dorsoventrally flattened bodies with enlarged muscled pectoral fins. Most batoids also swim using either of two modes of locomotion: undulation or oscillation of the pectoral fins. In other elasmobranchs (e.g., sharks), the main locomotory muscle is located in the axial myotome; in contrast, the main locomotory muscle in batoids is found in the enlarged pectoral fins. The pectoral fin muscles of sharks have a simple structure, confined to the base of the fin; however, little to no data are available on the more complex musculature within the pectoral fins of batoids. Understanding the types of fibers and their arrangement within the pectoral fins may elucidate how batoid fishes are able to utilize such unique swimming modes. In the present study, histochemical methods including succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) and immunofluoresence were used to determine the different fiber types comprising these muscles in three batoid species: Atlantic stingray (Dasyatis sabina), ocellate river stingray (Potamotrygon motoro) and cownose ray (Rhinoptera bonasus). All three species had muscles comprised of two muscle fiber types (slow-red and fast-white). The undulatory species, D. sabina and P. motoro, had a larger proportion of fast-white muscle fibers compared to the oscillatory species, R. bonasus. The muscle fiber sizes were similar between each species, though generally smaller compared to the axial musculature in other elasmobranch fishes. These results suggest that batoid locomotion can be distinguished using muscle fiber type proportions. Undulatory species are more benthic with fast-white fibers allowing them to contract their muscles quickly, as a possible means of escape from potential predators. Oscillatory species are pelagic and are known to migrate long distances with muscles using slow-red fibers to aid in sustained swimming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly K Gabler-Smith
- Department of Biology, West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA.,Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David J Coughlin
- Department of Biology, Widener University, Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Frank E Fish
- Department of Biology, West Chester University, West Chester, Pennsylvania, USA
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Moran CJ, Jebb KE, Travitz L, Coughlin DJ, Gerry SP. Thermal acclimation leads to variable muscle responses in two temperate labrid fishes. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb235226. [PMID: 33106300 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.235226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Temperature can be a key abiotic factor in fish distribution, as it affects most physiological processes. Specifically, temperature can affect locomotor capabilities, especially as species are exposed to temperatures nearing their thermal limits. In this study, we aimed to understand the effects of temperature on muscle in two labrids that occupy the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. When exposed to cold temperatures in autumn, cunner (Tautogolabrus adspersus) and tautog (Tautoga onitis) go into a state of winter dormancy. Transitions into dormancy vary slightly, where tautog will make short migrations to overwintering habitats while cunner overwinter in year-round habitats. To understand how muscle function changes with temperature, we held fish for 4 weeks at either 5 or 20°C and then ran muscle kinetic and workloop experiments at 5, 10 and 20°C. Following experiments, we used immunohistochemistry staining to identify acclimation effects on myosin isoform expression. Muscle taken from warm-acclimated cunner performed the best, whereas there were relatively few differences among the other three groups. Cunner acclimated at both temperatures downregulated the myosin heavy chain, suggesting a transition in fiber type from slow-oxidative to fast-glycolytic. This change did not amount to a detectable difference in muscle power production and kinetics. However, overall poor performance at cold temperatures could force these fishes into torpor to overwinter. Tautog, alternatively, retained myosin heavy chains, which likely increases locomotor capabilities when making short migrations to overwintering habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clinton J Moran
- The Citadel Biology Department, 171 Moultrie Street, Charleston, SC 29409, USA
- Biology Department, Fairfield University, 1073 N. Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824, USA
| | - Kamryn E Jebb
- Biology Department, Fairfield University, 1073 N. Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824, USA
| | - Leksi Travitz
- Widener University, Department of Biology, One University Place, Chester, PA 19013, USA
| | - David J Coughlin
- Widener University, Department of Biology, One University Place, Chester, PA 19013, USA
| | - Shannon P Gerry
- Biology Department, Fairfield University, 1073 N. Benson Road, Fairfield, CT 06824, USA
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Thermal acclimation of rainbow trout myotomal muscle, can trout acclimate to a warming environment? Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2020; 245:110702. [PMID: 32278083 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.110702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Climate change is a looming threat to the planet. Cold-water aquatic species will face significant physiological challenges due to elevated summer temperatures. Salmonids, such as rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) maintain fidelity to native streams, limiting their ability to mitigate the impact of climate change through migration. We examined how rainbow trout swimming performance and muscle function were shaped by the thermal environment. We hypothesized that trout would show slower muscle contractile properties and slower swimming performance with long-term exposure to warmer water. For fish held at either 10 °C or 20 °C, maximum steady swimming speed (Ucrit) was determined, and contractile properties of both fast-twitch (white) and slow-twitch (red) myotomal muscle were examined. In addition, immunohistochemistry and quantitative PCR were used to assess changes in myosin content of the myotomal muscle in response to holding temperature. Rainbow trout exposed to warm water for six weeks displayed relatively limited thermal acclimation response. When tested at a common temperature (10 °C), 20 °C acclimated fish had modestly slower muscle performance compared to 10 °C acclimated fish. Significant differences in swimming performance and muscle contractile properties were primarily at colder test temperatures (e.g. 2 °C for muscle mechanics). Shifts in myosin heavy chain protein composition and myosin heavy chain gene expression in the swimming muscle were observed in white but not red muscle. Our results suggest that rainbow trout will have a limited ability to mitigate elevated environmental temperature through thermal acclimation of their myotomal or swimming muscle.
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Coughlin D, Nicastro L, Brookes P, Bradley M, Shuman J, Steirer E, Mistry H. Thermal acclimation and gene expression in rainbow smelt: Changes in the myotomal transcriptome in the cold. COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2019; 31:100610. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2019.100610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2019] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Dong J, Chen Z, Sun C, Tian Y, Hu J, Lu M, Ye X. Cloning, SNP detection, and growth correlation analysis of the 5' flanking regions of two myosin heavy chain-7 genes in Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi). Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2018; 228:10-16. [PMID: 30419288 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2018.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Myosin heavy chains (MYHs) play important roles in muscle growth and contraction. In fish, MYHs contribute to hyperplasia and hypertrophy of muscle fibers, which can continue into adult life and thus result in indeterminate growth in some species. We previously identified two MYH genes, MYH-7a and MYH-7b, that are differentially expressed in Mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) and appear to function in early growth. However, the regulatory role of their 5' flanking regions is unknown. To examine the effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in these regions, we used genome walking to amplify their flanking sequences and analyzed the regulatory elements and binding sites. A single SNP locus was found in the flanking sequence of each gene. These SNP loci are located in the conserved glucocorticoid receptor binding region (MYH-7a: G-614A; Allele frequency: G:A = 94.9:5.1; GG (89.76) and AG (10.24) genotypes) and the LIM homeobox domain transcription factor binding sequence (MYH-7b: C-1933A; Allele frequency: C:A = 54.8:45.2; AA (20.82), AC (48.81), and CC (30.37) genotypes). At the G-614A loci, the GG genotype exhibited more superior growth traits (total length, body length, body height, etc.) than the AG genotype, with the exception of caudal peduncle length. Alternatively, at the C-1933A loci, the AC and AA genotypes showed significant differences in all growth traits, except for head length, with AC exhibiting superior traits. The AA and CC genotypes showed significant differences in caudal peduncle length and height, while no differences were observed between the AC and CC genotypes. Thus, these SNPs in the 5' flanking regions of MYH-7a and MYH-7b are correlated with superior growth and can be used for selecting Mandarin fish during breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjian Dong
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fisheries Resource Application & Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China
| | - Zhihang Chen
- Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao 266071, China
| | - Chengfei Sun
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fisheries Resource Application & Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Yuanyuan Tian
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fisheries Resource Application & Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China
| | - Jie Hu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fisheries Resource Application & Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China
| | - Maixin Lu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fisheries Resource Application & Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Xing Ye
- Key Laboratory of Tropical & Subtropical Fisheries Resource Application & Cultivation, Ministry of Agriculture, Pearl River Fisheries Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Guangzhou 510380, China; College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China.
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Schilder RJ. (How) do animals know how much they weigh? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 219:1275-82. [PMID: 27208031 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.120410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Animal species varying in size and musculoskeletal design all support and move their body weight. This implies the existence of evolutionarily conserved feedback between sensors that produce quantitative signals encoding body weight and proximate determinants of musculoskeletal designs. Although studies at the level of whole organisms and tissue morphology and function clearly indicate that musculoskeletal designs are constrained by body weight variation, the corollary to this - i.e. that the molecular-level composition of musculoskeletal designs is sensitive to body weight variation - has been the subject of only minimal investigation. The main objective of this Commentary is to briefly summarize the former area of study but, in particular, to highlight the latter hypothesis and the relevance of understanding the mechanisms that control musculoskeletal function at the molecular level. Thus, I present a non-exhaustive overview of the evidence - drawn from different fields of study and different levels of biological organization - for the existence of body weight sensing mechanism(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudolf J Schilder
- Department of Entomology and Biology, Pennsylvania State University, 501 Ag Sci Ind Bldg, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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Thermal acclimation to cold alters myosin content and contractile properties of rainbow smelt, Osmerus mordax, red muscle. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2016; 196:46-53. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2016.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Revised: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Coughlin DJ, Akhtar M. Contractile properties of the myotomal muscle of sheepshead, Archosargus probatocephalus. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 323:169-78. [PMID: 25676176 DOI: 10.1002/jez.1904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2014] [Revised: 10/17/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Swimming in fishes is powered by myotomal red, white and pink skeletal muscle. Slow swimming is powered by the red (slow-twitch muscle), fast speeds are achieved by the white (fast-twitch) muscle and pink muscle apparently serves an intermediate function. In recent years, the physiological properties and molecular composition of red (slow) and white (fast) muscle fibers have been well studied, while the intermediate pink muscle, which falls in a thin sheet between the superficial red muscle and deeper white muscle, has received less attention. The goal of this study is to determine the contractile properties of red, pink, and white muscle and to establish the molecular basis of fiber type variations in contractile properties in a sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus). Isometric and isovelocity muscle mechanics experiments demonstrated a general pattern of increasing contractile speed from red to pink to white muscle, although red and pink muscle did not differ significantly for most contraction kinetics variables. As myosin heavy chain (MyHC) is the most important structural protein found in the muscle fibers, MyHC content was examined through immunohistochemistry. Myosin antibodies suggest a gradient in myosin content corresponding to differences in muscle contraction kinetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Coughlin
- Department of Biology, Widener University, Chester, Pennsylvania
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Woytanowski JR, Coughlin DJ. Thermal acclimation in rainbow smelt, Osmerus mordax, leads to faster myotomal muscle contractile properties and improved swimming performance. Biol Open 2013; 2:343-50. [PMID: 23519555 PMCID: PMC3603416 DOI: 10.1242/bio.20133509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2012] [Accepted: 12/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Rainbow smelt (Osmerus mordax) display an impressive ability to acclimate to very cold water temperatures. These fish express both anti-freeze proteins and glycerol in their plasma, liver, muscle and other tissues to avoid freezing at sub-zero temperatures. Maintenance of glycerol levels requires active feeding in very cold water. To understand how these fish can maintain activity at cold temperatures, we explored thermal acclimation by the myotomal muscle of smelt exposed to cold water. We hypothesized that cold-acclimated fish would show enhanced swimming ability due to shifts in muscle contractile properties. We also predicted that shifts in swimming performance would be associated with changes in the expression patterns of muscle proteins such as parvalbumin (PV) and myosin heavy chain (MyHC). Swimming studies show significantly faster swimming by smelt acclimated to 5°C compared to fish acclimated to 20°C when tested at a common test temperature of 10°C. The cold-acclimated fish also had faster muscle contractile properties, such as a maximum shortening velocity (Vmax) almost double that of warm-acclimated fish at the same test temperature. Cold-acclimation is associated with a modest increase in PV levels in the swimming muscle. Fluorescence microscopy using anti-MyHC antibodies suggests that MyHC expression in the myotomal muscle may shift in response to exposure to cold water. The complex set of physiological responses that comprise cold-acclimation in smelt includes modifications in muscle function to permit active locomotion in cold water.
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