The peptide hormone cholecystokinin modulates the tonus and compliance of the bulbus arteriosus and pre-branchial vessels of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Tissue distribution of appetite regulation genes and their expression in the Amazon fish Colossoma macropomum exposed to climate change scenario

Climate change leads to an increase in water acidification and temperature, two environmental factors that can change fish appetite and metabolism, affecting fish population in both wild and aquaculture facilities. Therefore, our study tested if climate change affects gene expression levels of two appetite-regulating peptides - Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and Cholecystokinin (CCK) - in the brain of tambaqui, Colossoma macropomum. Additionally, we show the distribution of these genes throughout the body. Amino acid sequences of CCK and NPY of tambaqui showed high similarity with other Characiformes, with the closely related order Cypriniformes, and even with the more distantly related order Salmoniformes. High apparent levels of both peptides were expressed in all brain areas, while expression levels varied for peripheral tissues. NPY and CCK mRNA were detected in all peripheral tissues but cephalic kidney for CCK. As for the effects of climate change, we found that fish exposed to extreme climate scenario (800 ppm CO2 and 4.5 °C above current climate scenario) had higher expression levels of NPY and lower expression levels of CCK in the telencephalon. The extreme climate scenario also increased food intake, weight gain, and body length. These results suggest that the telencephalon is probably responsible for sensing the metabolic status of the organism and controlling feeding behavior through NPY, likely an orexigenic hormone, and CCK, which may act as an anorexigenic hormone. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing the effects of climate change on the endocrine regulation of appetite in an endemic and economically important fish from the Amazon. Our results can help us predict the impact of climate change on both wild and farmed fish populations, thus contributing to the elaboration of future policies regarding their conservation and sustainable use.

Adverse effects of SYP-3343 on zebrafish development via ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction

As a newly-invented and highly-efficiency strobilurin fungicide, pyraoxystrobin (SYP-3343) has been recognized as a highly poisonous toxin for a variety of aquatic organisms. Nevertheless, the developmental toxicity and potential mechanism of SYP-3343 have not been well-documented. The results showed that SYP-3343 was relatively stable and maintained within the range of 20 % in 24 h, and the LC₅₀ value to embryos at 72 hpf was 17.13 μg/L. The zebrafish embryotoxicity induced by 1, 2, 4, and 8 μg/L SYP-3343 is demonstrated by repressive embryo incubation, enhancive mortality rate, abnormal heart rate, malformed morphological characteristic, and impaired spontaneous coiling, indicating SYP-3343 mostly exerted its toxicity in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Besides SYP-3343 was critically involved in regulating cell cycle, mitochondrial membrane potential, and reactive oxygen species production as well as zebrafish primary cells apoptosis, which can be mitigated using antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine. A significant change occurred in total protein content, the biochemical indices, and antioxidant capacities owing to SYP-3343 exposure. Additionally, SYP-3343 altered the mRNA levels of heart development-, mitochondrial function-, and apoptosis-related genes in zebrafish embryos. These results indicated that SYP-3343 induced apoptosis accompanying reactive oxygen species-initiated mitochondrial dysfunction in zebrafish embryos.

Compliance of the fish outflow tract is altered by thermal acclimation through connective tissue remodelling

To protect the gill capillaries from high systolic pulse pressure, the fish heart contains a compliant non-contractile chamber called the bulbus arteriosus which is part of the outflow tract (OFT) which extends from the ventricle to the ventral aorta. Thermal acclimation alters the form and function of the fish atria and ventricle to ensure appropriate cardiac output at different temperatures, but its impact on the OFT is unknown. Here we used ex vivo pressure-volume curves to demonstrate remodelling of passive stiffness in the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) bulbus arteriosus following more than eight weeks of thermal acclimation to 5, 10 and 18°C. We then combined novel, non-biased Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy with classic histological staining to show that changes in compliance were achieved by changes in tissue collagen-to-elastin ratio. In situ gelatin zymography and SDS-PAGE zymography revealed that collagen remodelling was underpinned, at least in part, by changes in activity and abundance of collagen degrading matrix metalloproteinases. Collectively, we provide the first indication of bulbus arteriosus thermal remodelling in a fish and suggest this remodelling ensures optimal blood flow and blood pressure in the OFT during temperature change.

Cholecystokinin peptide signaling is regulated by a TBX5-MEF2 axis in the heart

The procholecystokinin (proCCK) gene encodes a secreted peptide known to regulate the digestive, endocrine, and nervous systems. Though recently proposed as a biomarker for heart dysfunction, its physiological role in both the embryonic and adult heart is poorly understood, and there are no reports of tissue-specific regulators of cholecystokinin signaling in the heart or other tissues. In the present study, mRNA of proCCK was observed in cardiac tissues during mouse embryonic development, establishing proCCK as an early marker of differentiated cardiomyocytes which is later restricted to anatomical subdomains of the neonatal heart. Three-dimensional analysis of the expression of proCCK and CCKAR/CCKBR receptors was performed using in situ hybridization and optical projection tomography, illustrating chamber-specific expression patterns in the postnatal heart. Transcription factor motif analyses indicated developmental cardiac transcription factors TBX5 and MEF2C as upstream regulators of proCCK, and this regulatory activity was confirmed in reporter gene assays. proCCK mRNA levels were also measured in the infarcted heart and in response to cyclic mechanical stretch and endothelin-1, indicating dynamic transcriptional regulation which might be leveraged for improved biomarker development. Functional analyses of exogenous cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) administration were performed in differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), and the results suggest that CCK-8 does not act as a differentiation modulator of cardiomyocyte subtypes. Collectively, these findings indicate that proCCK is regulated at the transcriptional level by TBX5-MEF2 and neurohormonal signaling, informing use of proCCK as a biomarker and future strategies for upstream manipulation of cholecystokinin signaling in the heart and other tissues.

Examples of Weak, If Not Absent, Form-Function Relations in the Vertebrate Heart

That form and function are related is a maxim of anatomy and physiology. Yet, form-function relations can be difficult to prove. Human subjects with excessive trabeculated myocardium in the left ventricle, for example, are diagnosed with non-compaction cardiomyopathy, but the extent of trabeculations may be without relation to ejection fraction. Rather than rejecting a relation between form and function, we may ask whether the salient function is assessed. Is there a relation to electrical propagation, mean arterial blood pressure, or propensity to form blood clots? In addition, how should the extent of trabeculated muscle be assessed? While reviewing literature on trabeculated muscle, we applied Tinbergen's four types of causation-how does it work, why does it work, how is it made, and why did it evolve-to better parse what is meant by form and function. The paper is structured around cases that highlight advantages and pitfalls of applying Tinbergen's questions. It further uses the evolution of lunglessness in amphibians to argue that lung reduction impacts on chamber septation and it considers the evolution of an arterial outflow in fishes to argue that reductions in energy consumption may drive structural changes with little consequences to function. Concerning trabeculations, we argue they relate to pumping function in the embryo in the few weeks before the onset of coronary circulation. In human fetal and postnatal stages, a spectrum of trabeculated-to-compact myocardium makes no difference to cardiac function and in this period, form and function may appear unrelated.