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Borisov V, Shkil F, Seleznev D, Smirnov S. Is African non-annual killifish Fundulopanchax gardneri (Teleostei; Cyprinodontiformes; Nothobranchiidae) true non-annual? Dev Dyn 2024; 253:490-507. [PMID: 37855428 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Annual or seasonal killifishes (Cyprinodontiformes: Nothobranchiidae) are unique among fish in their ability to enter into developmental arrests (diapauses: DI, DII, and DIII). They have a short lifespan and their embryos are exceptionally tolerant to a variety of environmental stresses. These traits make them a popular model for studying vertebrate diapause, aging, stress tolerance, genome adaptation, and evolution. In such issues, in a comparative evolutionary framework, Fundulopanchax gardneri, a popular aquarium fish from Africa, is commonly used as a representative non-annual model though its development is not studied in detail and whether it includes diapauses remains uncertain. RESULTS We described in detail for the first time embryonic development of F. gardneri and revealed it to resemble that in the undoubtedly annual Austrofundulus limnaeus killifish in displaying two developmental depressions. However, if compared with A. limnaeus, these developmental states look like "less intense" versions of DII and DIII rather than true diapauses. CONCLUSIONS To determine whether developmental depressions in F. gardneri represent "true" diapauses or only their functional equivalents, detailed studies of embryonic development of different killifish both annual and non-annual are needed. Before that, acceptance of F. gardneri as a representative non-annual fish seems premature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasily Borisov
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Morphology, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Fedor Shkil
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Morphology, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Postnatal Ontogeny, N.K. Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry Seleznev
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Morphology, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
- Laboratory of Ecology of Aquatic Invertebrates, I.D. Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters of Russian Academy of Sciences, Borok, Russia
| | - Sergei Smirnov
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Morphology, A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
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2
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Collar DC, Hobbs TJ, Thompson JS. Scaling of fast-start performance and its thermal dependence in mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus. J Fish Biol 2024; 104:611-623. [PMID: 37942892 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Fast-start predator-escape performance and its sensitivity to temperature (24, 30, and 36°C) were evaluated in mummichog Fundulus heteroclitus across a range of body sizes spanning YOY to adult (35-68 mm standard length). Mummichogs exhibit isometry of body dimensions and areas of the dorsal and anal fins but negative allometry of the caudal fin area. These scaling relationships are consistent with observed decreases in fast-start angular velocities with increasing body size. Linear velocity, on the contrary, does not vary with size, and both large and small mummichogs are capable of traversing similar distances in a given amount of time. In addition, temperature influences fast-start performance in similar ways over the size range, though the magnitude of the effect varies with size for some performance measures. In general, fast-start performance increases with test temperature, but mummichogs acclimated to warmer temperatures exhibit lower performance at each test temperature. Altogether, our results suggest that mummichogs across the adult size range may suffer decreases in their predator-escape performance as increasing sea temperatures combine with short-term temperature fluctuations in the estuaries these fish occupy.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Collar
- Department of Organismal and Environmental Biology, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Virginia, USA
| | - Trevor J Hobbs
- Department of Organismal and Environmental Biology, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Virginia, USA
| | - Jessica S Thompson
- Department of Organismal and Environmental Biology, Christopher Newport University, Newport News, Virginia, USA
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3
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Bergmans S, Vanhunsel S, Moons L. Visually Driven Behavior Assays to Study Functionality and Recovery after Damage of the Aged African Turquoise Killifish Visual System. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2023; 2023:pdb.prot108096. [PMID: 36941062 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot108096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
Loss of vision is a prominent feature of aging and vision is considered by many to be the most valuable sense to be lost. In our graying society, we are increasingly challenged by age-related deterioration of the central nervous system (CNS), as well as by age-associated neurodegenerative diseases and brain injuries, all often affecting the visual system and thus its performance. Here, we describe two visually driven behavior assays to evaluate visual performance upon aging or CNS damage in the fast-aging killifish. The first test, the optokinetic response (OKR), measures the reflexive eye movement triggered by motion in the visual field and allows assessment of visual acuity. The second assay, the dorsal light reflex (DLR), evaluates the swimming angle based on input of light coming from above. The OKR can be used to study the effect of aging on visual acuity as well as visual improvement and recovery after rejuvenation therapy or visual system injury or disease, whereas the DLR is best used to assess functional repair after a unilateral optic nerve crush.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Bergmans
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sophie Vanhunsel
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Moons
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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4
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Dolfi L, Suen TK, Medelbekova D, Ripa R, Symmons O, Antebi A. Sperm Cryopreservation of the African Turquoise Killifish Nothobranchius furzeri. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2023; 2023:pdb.prot107885. [PMID: 36921999 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot107885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Sperm cryopreservation is an essential method for the genetic preservation and long-term storage of wild-type and transgenic animal stocks. In addition, it allows for the synchronization of gamete availability and the transport and sharing of lines between different laboratories. Here, we describe a protocol developed in our laboratory for the extraction and cryopreservation of killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri) sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Dolfi
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Tsz Kin Suen
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Roberto Ripa
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Orsolya Symmons
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Adam Antebi
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster in Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
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5
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Dolfi L, Suen TK, Medelbekova D, Ripa R, Symmons O, Antebi A. In Vitro Fertilization of the African Turquoise Killifish Nothobranchius furzeri. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2023; 2023:pdb.prot107886. [PMID: 37100471 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot107886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
The ability to perform in vitro fertilization, together with sperm cryopreservation, greatly facilitates the long-term laboratory maintenance of wild-type and transgenic model organisms and helps prevent genetic drift. It is also useful in cases where reproduction may be compromised. In this protocol, we present a method for in vitro fertilization of the African Turquoise killifish Nothobranchius furzeri that is compatible with the use of fresh or cryopreserved sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Dolfi
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Tsz Kin Suen
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | | | - Roberto Ripa
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Orsolya Symmons
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Adam Antebi
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, 50931 Cologne, Germany
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
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6
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Vanhunsel S, Bergmans S, Moons L. The Optic Nerve Crush Injury Paradigm in African Turquoise Killifish to Study Axonal Regeneration in an Aged Environment. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2023; 2023:pdb.prot107828. [PMID: 36941064 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot107828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
In our graying world population, we are increasingly facing brain injuries and age-associated neurodegenerative diseases, which are often characterized by axonal pathology. Here, we propose the killifish visual/retinotectal system as a model for investigating central nervous system repair, more specifically axonal regeneration, in an aging context. We first describe an optic nerve crush (ONC) injury paradigm in killifish to induce and study both de- and regeneration of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons. Subsequently, we summarize several methods for mapping different steps of the regenerative process-namely, axonal regrowth and synapse reformation-using retro- and anterograde tracing methods, (immuno)histochemistry, and morphometrical analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Vanhunsel
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Steven Bergmans
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Moons
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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7
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Bergmans S, Raes L, Moons L, De Groef L. A review on neurodegeneration in the fast-ageing killifish, the first animal model to study the natural occurrence of neuronal cell loss. Ageing Res Rev 2023; 91:102065. [PMID: 37666433 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.102065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
Thanks to medical and technological improvements, our world population has become ever-greying. In consequence, the incidence and prevalence of age-related central nervous system neuropathies, such as Alzheimer's (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), are increasing tremendously. Despite many research efforts, the precise aetiology of these age-related neurodegenerative disorders remains elusive, highlighting the urgent need for more effective treatments. Current preclinical research mainly uses animal models that do not fully recapitulate the complex cellular context in which these diseases occur, thereby lacking good construct validity. Indeed, most investigations are performed using relatively young animals, thereby ignoring the ageing environment in which neurodegenerative diseases manifest. This points out a major hiatus in current research: a vertebrate model organism that combines the complex disease context (onset, spreading and further manifestation into functional impairment) with an ageing environment. In recent years, the African turquoise killifish has emerged as a promising novel animal model to study age-related neurodegenerative disorders that combines these essential features. In this review, we bundle all reported findings up till now and provide a detailed overview of the neurodegenerative events within the central nervous system of this teleost fish, with a focus on PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Bergmans
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Neural Circuit Development & Regeneration research group, Naamsestraat 61, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Raes
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Cellular Communication & Neurodegeneration research group, Naamsestraat 61, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Moons
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Neural Circuit Development & Regeneration research group, Naamsestraat 61, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lies De Groef
- KU Leuven, Leuven Brain Institute, Department of Biology, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Cellular Communication & Neurodegeneration research group, Naamsestraat 61, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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8
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Teefy BB, Lemus AJJ, Adler A, Xu A, Bhala R, Hsu K, Benayoun BA. Widespread sex dimorphism across single-cell transcriptomes of adult African turquoise killifish tissues. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113237. [PMID: 37837621 PMCID: PMC10842523 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The African turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri), the shortest-lived vertebrate that can be bred in captivity, is an emerging model organism for aging research. Here, we describe a multitissue, single-cell gene expression atlas of female and male blood, kidney, liver, and spleen. We annotate 22 cell types, define marker genes, and infer differentiation trajectories. We find pervasive sex-dimorphic gene expression across cell types. Sex-dimorphic genes tend to be linked to lipid metabolism, consistent with clear differences in lipid storage in female vs. male turquoise killifish livers. We use machine learning to predict sex using single-cell gene expression and identify potential markers for molecular sex identity. As a proof of principle, we show that our atlas can be used to deconvolute existing bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data to obtain accurate estimates of cell type proportions. This atlas can be a resource to the community that could be leveraged to develop cell-type-specific expression in transgenic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan B Teefy
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Aaron J J Lemus
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Molecular and Computational Biology Department, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Ari Adler
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Alan Xu
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Quantitative & Computational Biology Department, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Rajyk Bhala
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Katelyn Hsu
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Molecular and Computational Biology Department, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Bérénice A Benayoun
- Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Molecular and Computational Biology Department, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine Department, USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; USC Stem Cell Initiative, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
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9
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Moses E, Franek R, Harel I. A scalable and tunable platform for functional interrogation of peptide hormones in fish. eLife 2023; 12:e85960. [PMID: 37872843 PMCID: PMC10597582 DOI: 10.7554/elife.85960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Pituitary hormones play a central role in shaping vertebrate life history events, including growth, reproduction, metabolism, and aging. The regulation of these traits often requires precise control of hormone levels across diverse timescales. However, fine tuning circulating hormones in-vivo has traditionally been experimentally challenging. Here, using the naturally short-lived turquoise killifish (N. furzeri), we describe a high-throughput platform that combines loss- and gain-of-function of peptide hormones. Mutation of three primary pituitary hormones, growth hormone (gh1), follicle stimulating hormone (fshb), and thyroid stimulating hormone (tshb), alters somatic growth and reproduction. Thus, suggesting that while the killifish undergoes extremely rapid growth and maturity, it still relies on vertebrate-conserved genetic networks. As the next stage, we developed a gain-of-function vector system in which a hormone is tagged using a self-cleavable fluorescent reporter, and ectopically expressed in-vivo through intramuscular electroporation. Following a single electroporation, phenotypes, such as reproduction, are stably rescued for several months. Notably, we demonstrate the versatility of this approach by using multiplexing, dose-dependent, and doxycycline-inducible systems to achieve tunable and reversible expression. In summary, this method is relatively high-throughput, and facilitates large-scale interrogation of life-history strategies in fish. Ultimately, this approach could be adapted for modifying aquaculture species and exploring pro-longevity interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eitan Moses
- Department of Genetics, the Silberman Institute, The Hebrew University of JerusalemJerusalemIsrael
| | - Roman Franek
- Department of Genetics, the Silberman Institute, The Hebrew University of JerusalemJerusalemIsrael
- University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of HydrocenosesVodnanyCzech Republic
| | - Itamar Harel
- Department of Genetics, the Silberman Institute, The Hebrew University of JerusalemJerusalemIsrael
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10
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Bergmans S, Vanhunsel S, Van Houcke J, Mariën V, Arckens L, Moons L. Morphological Analysis of Aging Hallmarks in the Central Nervous System of the Fast-Aging African Turquoise Killifish. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2023; 2023:pdb.prot107827. [PMID: 36941063 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot107827] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
As the number of elderly individuals is increasing in modern society, the need for a relevant gerontology model is higher than ever before. Aging can be defined by specific cellular hallmarks, described by López-Otín and colleagues, who provided a map which can be used to scavenge the aging tissue environment. As revealing the presence of individual hallmarks does not necessarily indicate aging, here we provide different (immuno)histochemical approaches that can be used to investigate several aging hallmarks-namely, genomic damage, mitochondrial dysfunction/oxidative stress, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, and altered intercellular communication-in the killifish retina, optic tectum, and/or telencephalon at a morphological level. In combination with molecular and biochemical analysis of these aging hallmarks, this protocol offers the opportunity to fully characterize the aged killifish central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Bergmans
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sophie Vanhunsel
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jolien Van Houcke
- Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Valerie Mariën
- Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lut Arckens
- Neuroplasticity and Neuroproteomics Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lieve Moons
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research Group, Animal Physiology and Neurobiology Division, Department of Biology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
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11
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Loayza E, Muñoz-Saravia A, De Troch M, Hendriks WH, Janssens GPJ. Detailed whole-body nutrient analysis identifies differences in feeding ecology between related fish species: The case of Orestias native Andean killifish in Lake Titicaca. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2023; 107:1302-1310. [PMID: 37203287 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Body nutrient profiles in ecological studies allow for relating the nutritional status of consumers and their effects on the movement and retention of elements in ecosystems, as well as reflecting feeding conditions and habitat quality. This study compared the detailed whole-body nutrient composition (macronutrients, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids) of two omnivorous natives Orestias killifish from Lake Titicaca (Orestias agassizii and Orestias luteus, Valenciennes), the largest lake in the Andes, as an indirect tool to understand differences in their feeding ecology. Although both species are usually described as omnivorous fish, both have amphipods (Hyalella spp) as their main food source. Our results showed that both killifish had a comparable macronutrient composition, and the mineral concentrations of Mg, P and Ca (reflecting bony structures) differed between them. Many of the saturated fatty acids were significantly lower in O. luteus, and O. agassizii had higher concentrations of cis-vaccenic acid (18:1n11 (cis)), supporting the idea of a higher algal contribution to the diet of this fish. The lower histidine and higher taurine concentrations in O. agassizii compared with O. luteus (independent of body size) may reflect its ubiquitous behaviour and plasticity. This study shows how whole-body nutrient analysis can identify differences in feeding ecology and feeding behaviour between related species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erick Loayza
- Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
- Unidad de Ecología Acuática, Instituto de Ecología, Carrera de Biología-Facultad de Ciencias Puras y Naturales, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz, Bolivia
| | | | - Marleen De Troch
- Biology Department, Marine Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wouter H Hendriks
- Animal Nutrition Group, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Geert P J Janssens
- Department of Veterinary and Biosciences, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
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12
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Suominen E, Speers-Roesch B, Fadhlaoui M, Couture P, Blewett TA, Crémazy A. The effects of winter cold acclimation on acute and chronic cadmium bioaccumulation and toxicity in the banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus). Aquat Toxicol 2023; 262:106667. [PMID: 37619397 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Temperate freshwater fishes can experience large seasonal temperature fluctuations that could affect their exposure and sensitivity to trace metals. Yet, temperature effects are overlooked in ecotoxicology studies, especially for cold temperatures typical of the winter. In the present study, the effects of long-term cold acclimation on Cd bioaccumulation and toxicity were investigated in a freshwater fish, the banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus). Killifish were acclimated to 14 °C or gradually cooled (2 °C/week) to 4 °C and cold acclimated for 6 weeks. Then, both acclimation groups were exposed to environmentally realistic waterborne Cd concentrations (0, 0.5 or 5 µg Cd L-1) for a further 28 d at their respective acclimation temperatures. Tissue metal bioaccumulation, fish survival, condition, and markers of oxidative and ionoregulation stress, were measured after 0, 2, 5 and 28 days of Cd exposure. Cadmium tissue accumulation increased over the exposure duration and was typically lower in cold-acclimated fish. In agreement with this lower bioaccumulation, fewer Cd toxic effects were observed in cold-acclimated fish. There was little evidence of a difference in intrinsic Cd sensitivity between 4 °C- and 14 °C-acclimated fish, as Cd toxicity appeared to closely follow Cd bioaccumulation. Our study suggests that current environmental water quality guidelines would be protective in the winter for the abundant and ecologically-important banded killifish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Suominen
- University of New Brunswick, New Brunswick, Saint John, NB, Canada
| | | | - Mariem Fadhlaoui
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement de l'Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Québec, QC, Canada
| | - Patrice Couture
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement de l'Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Québec, QC, Canada
| | | | - Anne Crémazy
- Centre Eau Terre Environnement de l'Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, Québec, QC, Canada.
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13
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Smith GH, Murie DJ. Comparative diets and prey resource competition between early-juvenile common snook Centropomus undecimalis and non-native pike killifish Belonesox belizanus. J Fish Biol 2023; 103:646-665. [PMID: 37218593 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.15454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Pike killifish Belonesox belizanus is an established non-native fish species in Florida, USA, that was first documented in south Florida in 1957 and then in Tampa Bay tributaries in 1994. Decreases in small-bodied fish abundances have been linked to the introduction of B. belizanus in both of these regions. Increases in the range and abundance of B. belizanus in the Tampa Bay area and overlap in habitat usage have led to concerns about potential competition with, and predation on, early-juvenile common snook Centropomus undecimalis [≤100 mm standard length (SL)]. Stomach contents of B. belizanus (N = 422; 14-127 mm SL) and early-juvenile C. undecimalis (N = 1132; 5-119 mm SL) were collected to examine the dietary overlap of these two species and potential differences in the diet of early-juvenile C. undecimalis from locations with and without B. belizanus co-occurring. Prey resources were collected by seine to assess prey resource limitation and prey selectivity. Stomach content analysis indicated that there was low overlap in the diet of early-juvenile C. undecimalis and B. belizanus (C ≤ 0.40). Early-juvenile C. undecimalis had a wider diet breadth, consuming many organisms that are not consumed by B. belizanus and which make up a large portion of the early-juvenile C. undecimalis diet. Analysis of prey resources indicated that some prey groups may have lower abundances in locations where B. belizanus are present, with some of these differences reflected in the diet of early-juvenile C. undecimalis. Despite these differences, there was minimal difference in the diet overlap of early-juvenile C. undecimalis from locations with and without B. belizanus co-occurring. Currently B. belizanus appear to be competing minimally with early-juvenile C. undecimalis for prey resources, with no substantial impacts being detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey H Smith
- Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Debra J Murie
- Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
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14
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Thoré ESJ, Vanden Berghen B, Brendonck L, Pinceel T. Long-term exposure to a pharmaceutical pollutant affects geotaxic behaviour in the adult but not juvenile life stage of killifish. Sci Total Environ 2023; 876:162746. [PMID: 36907389 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Ecosystems around the world are increasingly polluted with pharmaceutical compounds that may perturb wildlife behaviour. Because many pharmaceuticals are continuously present in the aquatic environment, animals are often exposed to them across several life stages or even their entire life. Despite a large body of literature showing various impacts of exposure to pharmaceuticals on fish, hardly any long-term studies across different life stages have been conducted which makes it hard to accurately estimate the ecological outcomes of pharmaceutical pollution. Here, we performed a laboratory experiment in which we exposed hatchlings of the fish model Nothobranchius furzeri to an environmentally relevant concentration (0.5 μg/L) of the antidepressant fluoxetine until well into adulthood. We monitored total body length and geotaxic behaviour (i.e. gravity-mediated activity) of each fish as two traits that are ecologically relevant and naturally differ between juvenile and adult killifish. Fish exposed to fluoxetine were smaller compared to control fish, an effect that became more apparent as fish aged. Even though fluoxetine did not affect average swimming depth of either juveniles or adults, nor the time spent at the surface or bottom of the water column, exposed fish changed their position in the water column (depth) more frequently in the adult but not juvenile phase. These results suggest that important morphological and behavioural responses to pharmaceutical exposure-and their potential ecological consequences-may only emerge later in time and/or during specific life stages. Therefore, our results highlight the importance of considering ecologically relevant timescales across developmental stages when studying the ecotoxicology of pharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli S J Thoré
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; TRANSfarm - Science, Engineering & Technology Group, KU Leuven, Lovenjoel, Belgium.
| | - Birgit Vanden Berghen
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Luc Brendonck
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Tom Pinceel
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
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15
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Krug J, Perner B, Albertz C, Mörl H, Hopfenmüller VL, Englert C. Generation of a transparent killifish line through multiplex CRISPR/Cas9mediated gene inactivation. eLife 2023; 12:81549. [PMID: 36820520 PMCID: PMC10010688 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Body pigmentation is a limitation for in vivo imaging and thus for the performance of longitudinal studies in biomedicine. A possibility to circumvent this obstacle is the employment of pigmentation mutants, which are used in fish species like zebrafish and medaka. To address the basis of aging, the short-lived African killifish Nothobranchius furzeri has recently been established as a model organism. Despite its short lifespan, N. furzeri shows typical signs of mammalian aging including telomere shortening, accumulation of senescent cells, and loss of regenerative capacity. Here, we report the generation of a transparent N. furzeri line by the simultaneous inactivation of three key loci responsible for pigmentation. We demonstrate that this stable line, named klara, can serve as a tool for different applications including behavioral experiments and the establishment of a senescence reporter by integration of a fluorophore into the cdkn1a (p21) locus and in vivo microscopy of the resulting line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Krug
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)JenaGermany
| | - Birgit Perner
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)JenaGermany
- Core Facility Imaging, Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)JenaGermany
| | - Carolin Albertz
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)JenaGermany
| | - Hanna Mörl
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)JenaGermany
| | - Vera L Hopfenmüller
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)JenaGermany
| | - Christoph Englert
- Molecular Genetics Lab, Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI)JenaGermany
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Friedrich-Schiller-University JenaJenaGermany
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16
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Evsiukova VS, Arefieva AB, Sorokin IE, Kulikov AV. Age-Related Alterations in the Level and Metabolism of Serotonin in the Brain of Males and Females of Annual Turquoise Killifish ( Nothobranchius furzeri). Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043185. [PMID: 36834593 PMCID: PMC9959878 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The annual turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri) is a laboratory model organism for neuroscience of aging. In the present study, we investigated for the first time the levels of serotonin and its main metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, as well as the activities of the key enzymes of its synthesis, tryptophan hydroxylases, and degradation, monoamine oxidase, in the brains of 2-, 4- and 7-month-old male and female N. furzeri. The marked effect of age on the body mass and the level of serotonin, as well as the activities of tryptophan hydroxylases and monoamine oxidase in the brain of killifish were revealed. The level of serotonin decreased in the brain of 7-month-old males and females compared with 2-month-old ones. A significant decrease in the tryptophan hydroxylase activity and an increase in the monoamine oxidase activity in the brain of 7-month-old females compared to 2-month-old females was shown. These findings agree with the age-related alterations in expression of the genes encoding tryptophan hydroxylases and monoamine oxidase. N. furzeri is a suitable model with which to study the fundamental problems of age-related changes of the serotonin system in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina S. Evsiukova
- Department of Psychoneuropharmacology, Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alla B. Arefieva
- Department of Genetic Collections of Neural Disorders, Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Ivan E. Sorokin
- Department of Monogenic Forms of Human Common Disorders, Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Alexander V. Kulikov
- Department of Genetic Collections of Neural Disorders, Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +7-3833636187
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17
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McKay A, Costa EK, Chen J, Hu CK, Chen X, Bedbrook CN, Khondker RC, Thielvoldt M, Priya Singh P, Wyss-Coray T, Brunet A. An automated feeding system for the African killifish reveals the impact of diet on lifespan and allows scalable assessment of associative learning. eLife 2022; 11:e69008. [PMID: 36354233 PMCID: PMC9788828 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The African turquoise killifish is an exciting new vertebrate model for aging studies. A significant challenge for any model organism is the control over its diet in space and time. To address this challenge, we created an automated and networked fish feeding system. Our automated feeder is designed to be open-source, easily transferable, and built from widely available components. Compared to manual feeding, our automated system is highly precise and flexible. As a proof of concept for the feeding flexibility of these automated feeders, we define a favorable regimen for growth and fertility for the African killifish and a dietary restriction regimen where both feeding time and quantity are reduced. We show that this dietary restriction regimen extends lifespan in males (but not in females) and impacts the transcriptomes of killifish livers in a sex-specific manner. Moreover, combining our automated feeding system with a video camera, we establish a quantitative associative learning assay to provide an integrative measure of cognitive performance for the killifish. The ability to precisely control food delivery in the killifish opens new areas to assess lifespan and cognitive behavior dynamics and to screen for dietary interventions and drugs in a scalable manner previously impossible with traditional vertebrate model organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew McKay
- Department of Genetics, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Biology Graduate Program, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Emma K Costa
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Neurosciences Interdepartmental Program, Stanford University School of MedicineStanfordUnited States
| | - Jingxun Chen
- Department of Genetics, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Chi-Kuo Hu
- Department of Genetics, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Xiaoshan Chen
- Department of Genetics, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Claire N Bedbrook
- Department of Genetics, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | | | | | | | - Tony Wyss-Coray
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Glenn Laboratories for the Biology of Aging, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
| | - Anne Brunet
- Department of Genetics, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Glenn Laboratories for the Biology of Aging, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford UniversityStanfordUnited States
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18
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LaPlaca SB, Rice CD, van den Hurk P. Chronic toxicity of tire crumb rubber particles to mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) in episodic exposures. Sci Total Environ 2022; 846:157447. [PMID: 35853528 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microrubber (MR) encompasses all tire-related particles in the micro-scale and has recently drawn increased attention as a subclass of the broader group of microplastics. While tire particles entered the environment since the introduction of rubber tires for vehicles, the concern regarding tire wear particles (TWP) as an environmental contaminant is relatively new. Recent studies have examined physical and chemical toxicity of MR particles and leachates to a variety of organisms. However, there is a lack of information on the long-term effects of tire particle exposure under environmentally realistic conditions. The current study examined the chronic toxicity of crumb rubber (CR) particles to the estuarine fish species, mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) under episodic exposures at environmentally relevant concentrations. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) of fish gill, intestine, and liver was performed to assess CYP1A induction in these organs. Bile fluorescence was measured as an indicator of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from CR. DNA damage was measured through the formation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) together with other oxidative stress measures as lipid peroxidation (TBARS assay), free glutathione (GSH), and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentrations. Upregulation of CYP1A in gill, intestine, and liver was observed especially in gill filaments and general vasculature. Increased bile fluorescence demonstrated exposure to aromatic compounds, especially pyrene-like PAHs. Data for DNA damage indicated greater plasma 8-OHdG concentrations as a result of increased DNA repair. There was a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) production and an increase in total GSH at higher concentrations of CR. It appeared that under long-term repeated dosing, antioxidant systems in mummichog were upregulated to deal with exogenous stressors released by the CR particles. Combined, these data demonstrate that fish exposed to tire crumb rubber particles illicit significant biomarker responses under environmentally relevant CR concentrations, but induced antioxidant and detoxification pathways may prevent mortality and serious physiological effects in F. heteroclitus when exposed to environmentally relevant concentrations of CR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie B LaPlaca
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, 230 Parkway Drive, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Charles D Rice
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, 230 Parkway Drive, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Peter van den Hurk
- Department of Biological Sciences, Clemson University, 230 Parkway Drive, Clemson, SC 29634, USA.
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19
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Žák J, Dyková I, Blažek R, Reichard M. Good Practices for Histological Analysis of the Annual Killifish Nothobranchius furzeri (Nothobranchiidae). Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2022; 2022:Pdb.prot107739. [PMID: 35960623 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot107739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Paraffin histology is one of the most important and commonly used laboratory techniques enabling the study of the microscopic structure of animal and plant tissues. This technique uses paraffin wax, which in liquid form impregnates fixed and dehydrated tissues and allows the preparation of thin sections when solidified in blocks. This protocol on good practices in paraffin histology of Nothobranchius furzeri (Nothobranchiidae) summarizes the authors' current experience in terms of technique, evaluation, and interpretation of sectioned tissues. The steps that precede paraffin block preparation are also presented as they play a key role in maximizing the quality of examined sections. The paraffin technique as described only requires basic laboratory conditions to produce good-quality results. The description of staining methods is limited to Mayer's hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), the routinely used histological dye staining cell nuclei in blue-black (hematein) and cell cytoplasm and connective tissue fibers in shades of pink-red (eosin). Killifish specialists are encouraged to engage in the study of histology and histopathology, taking advantage of interdisciplinary cooperation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Žák
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno 603 00, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno 611 37, Czech Republic
| | - Iva Dyková
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno 611 37, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Blažek
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno 603 00, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno 611 37, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Reichard
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno 603 00, Czech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno 611 37, Czech Republic
- Department of Ecology and Vertebrate Zoology, University of Łódź, Łódź 90-237, Poland
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20
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Ito M, Hano T, Kono K, Ohkubo N. Desorption of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from polyethylene microplastics in two morphologically different digestive tracts of marine teleosts: Gastric red seabream (Pagrus major) and agastric mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus). Environ Pollut 2022; 308:119589. [PMID: 35680066 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we elucidated the desorption potency of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) sorbed on microplastics (MP; polyethylene) in the digestive tract of two fish species: gastric red seabream and agastric mummichog. In our in vitro assay system using the real gut sample of unexposed fish, the digestive tract was firstly removed from the fish and divided into three parts. Then, MP that had previously been sorbed with 16 PAHs were incubated with extracts of the gut contents or tissue with buffer or only a buffer. The desorption potency of PAHs was individually assessed for gut contents and tissue, which revealed that PAH desorption from MP was elevated in extracts of the gut contents compared with that in the buffer alone for both fish species. PAH desorption potency was the highest in the midgut for gastric red seabream and in the foregut for agastric mummichog, which indicates that PAH desorption from MP varies among different parts of the digestive tract and among fish with distinct gut morphology. In the midgut contents of red seabream and foregut contents of mummichog, the desorption fraction was 5.6% and 8.1% of the total PAHs sorbed on MP, respectively. The desorption fraction enhancement achieved by adding gut contents extracts tended to be greater with an increase in the n-octanol/water partition ratio, suggesting that enhancement of the desorption fraction in the digestive tract depends on the physicochemical properties of PAHs. Thus, morphological differences in digestive tracts and PAH properties should be considered when evaluating the effect of MP vector on pollutant exposure in fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mana Ito
- Fisheries Technology Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Maruishi 2-17-5, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, 739-0452, Japan.
| | - Takeshi Hano
- Fisheries Technology Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Maruishi 2-17-5, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, 739-0452, Japan.
| | - Kumiko Kono
- Fisheries Technology Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Maruishi 2-17-5, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, 739-0452, Japan.
| | - Nobuyuki Ohkubo
- Fisheries Technology Institute, Japan Fisheries Research and Education Agency, Maruishi 2-17-5, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima, 739-0452, Japan.
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21
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Hess C, Little L, Brown C, Kaller M, Galvez F. Transgenerational effects of parental crude oil exposure on the morphology of adult Fundulus grandis. Aquat Toxicol 2022; 249:106209. [PMID: 35724524 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2022.106209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 04/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The current study involved exposing adult F0 Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis) to Macondo-252 oil for 36 to 44 days and assessing the effects of this oiling on the swimming performance and morphology in two generations of progeny reared in clean water. Following exposure to oil, the F0 fish were used as broodstock to generate four lineages of F1 fish using a full-matrix mating design derived from the gametes of clean and oil-exposed parents. Later, the four lineages of F1 fish were used as broodstock to create an F2 generation of the same four lineages. We found few differences in embryonic outcome (% dead,% hatched, and% unhatched) in any of the four lineages of F1 and F2 fish. However, as adults, F1 and F2 fish derived from oil-exposed males from the F0 generation had significantly lower critical swimming speeds (Ucrit) than both the control and maternally oil-exposed lineages. Additionally, progeny of oil-exposed fish had altered body shape based on the statistical analysis of two-dimensional landmark-based geometric morphometrics. Fish from oil-exposed lineages showed increased body depth, altered spinal curvature, and changes in the upward angle of projection of the head. Both generations had a significant main effect of maternal and paternal oil exposure on shape; however, F0 paternal oil exposure explained more of the variance in shape across both generations relative to F0 maternal exposure. Our findings demonstrate that parental exposure to oil can impact the shape and aerobic swimming capacity of offspring for at least two generations after the original paternal oiling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chelsea Hess
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States.
| | - Lauren Little
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States
| | - Charles Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States
| | - Michael Kaller
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States
| | - Fernando Galvez
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, United States.
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22
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He X, Wallace WG, Reinfelder JR. Grass Shrimp ( Palaemonetes pugio) as a Trophic Link for Methylmercury Accumulation in Urban Salt Marshes. Environ Sci Technol 2022; 56:8071-8081. [PMID: 35584355 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) represent a potential link in the transfer of methylmercury (MeHg) from salt marsh sediments to transient young-of-the-year (YOY) fish. Across six salt marshes subject to varying degrees of Hg contamination, MeHg concentration in grass shrimp was significantly correlated with MeHg in sediment (p < 0.05, R2 = 0.81). Bioenergetic models show that grass shrimp alone account for 12-90% of MeHg observed in YOY striped bass and 6-22% of MeHg in YOY summer flounder. Direct accumulation of MeHg from grass shrimp to YOY fish increased with MeHg levels in grass shrimp and sediment. However, in the most contaminated salt marshes with the highest levels of MeHg in grass shrimp and sediment, indirect accumulation of MeHg from grass shrimp by YOY summer flounder, whose diet is dominated by benthic forage fish (mummichog), is predicted to plateau because higher concentrations of MeHg in grass shrimp are offset by a lower proportion of grass shrimp in the mummichog diet. Our results demonstrate that grass shrimp are an important trophic link in the bioaccumulation of MeHg in salt marsh food webs and that MeHg accumulation in YOY fish varies with both the concentration of MeHg in salt marsh sediments and benthic food web structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoshuai He
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
| | - William G Wallace
- Department of Biology, College of Staten Island, City University of New York, Staten Island, New York 10314, United States
| | - John R Reinfelder
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, United States
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23
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Gao X, Cai T, Lin Y, Zhu R, Hao W, Guo S, Hu G. The function of glucose metabolism in embryonic diapause of annual killifish. Comp Biochem Physiol Part D Genomics Proteomics 2022; 42:100965. [PMID: 35149343 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2022.100965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Annual killifish could survive as diapaused embryos buried in soil during dry seasons. When the embryos in diapause III were incubated in water, the larvae could be hatched quickly. However, the mechanism of diapause and hatching of annual killifish was ambiguous. In the present study, Nothobranchius guentheri were used as the model to clarify the physiological mechanism of diapause and hatching of annual killifish. The results indicated that incubation with water could significantly enhance the heart rate and blood circulation of embryos. To clarify the molecular mechanism, the transcriptomic analysis was used to compare the embryos in diapause I, diapause III, and hatching period. The results showed that DNA replication-related genes, cell division cycle 45 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen were more highly expressed in diapause I compared to diapause III. In addition, the transcript levels of glucagon, glucokinase and phosphofructokinase were more abundantly detected in hatching period compared to diapause III, but insulin receptor and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein were lower. These results indicated glucose metabolism might play an important role in diapause and hatching of killifish. To further confirm this result, several reagents involved in glucose metabolism were used to incubate embryos in diapause III. The results displayed that glucose and glucagon could both shorten the hatching time of embryos. In contrast, 2-deoxy-d-glucose, metformin, and insulin could prolong the hatching time and reduce the hatching rate. The results further confirmed that glucose metabolism played an important role in the diapause and hatching of annual killifish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Gao
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Tianyi Cai
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yongtong Lin
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Rui Zhu
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Wenxin Hao
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Shuming Guo
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Guangfu Hu
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
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Tunnah L, Wilson JM, Wright PA. Retention of larval skin traits in adult amphibious killifishes: a cross-species investigation. J Comp Physiol B 2022; 192:473-488. [PMID: 35441298 DOI: 10.1007/s00360-022-01436-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The gills are the primary site of exchange in fishes. However, during early life-stages or in amphibious fishes, ionoregulation and gas-exchange may be primarily cutaneous. Given the similarities between larval and amphibious fishes, we hypothesized that cutaneous larval traits are continuously expressed in amphibious fishes across all life-stages to enable the skin to be a major site of exchange on land. Alternatively, we hypothesized that cutaneous larval traits disappear in juvenile stages and are re-expressed in amphibious species in later life-stages. We surveyed six species spanning a range of amphibiousness and characterized cutaneous ionocytes and neuroepithelial cells (NECs) as representative larval skin traits at up to five stages of development. We found that skin ionocyte density remained lower and constant in exclusively water-breathing, relative to amphibious species across development, whereas in amphibious species ionocyte density generally increased. Additionally, adults of the most amphibious species had the highest cutaneous ionocyte densities. Surprisingly, cutaneous NECs were only identified in the skin of one amphibious species (Kryptolebias marmoratus), suggesting that cutaneous NECs are not a ubiquitous larval or amphibious skin trait, at least among the species we studied. Our data broadly supports the continuous-expression hypothesis, as three of four amphibious experimental species expressed cutaneous ionocytes in all examined life-stages. Further, the increasing density of cutaneous ionocytes across development in amphibious species probably facilitates the prolonged occupation of terrestrial habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Tunnah
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Jonathan M Wilson
- Department of Biology, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3C5, Canada
| | - Patricia A Wright
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, N1G 2W1, Canada.
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25
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Franco ME, Ramirez AJ, Johanning KM, Matson CW, Lavado R. In vitro-in vivo biotransformation and phase I metabolite profiling of benzo[a]pyrene in Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis) populations with different exposure histories. Aquat Toxicol 2022; 243:106057. [PMID: 34942459 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.106057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Chronic exposure to pollution may lead populations to display evolutionary adaptations associated with cellular and physiological mechanisms of defense against xenobiotics. This could result in differences in the way individuals of the same species, but inhabiting different areas, cope with chemical exposure. In the present study, we explore two Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis) populations with different exposure histories for potential differences in the biotransformation of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), and conduct a comparative evaluation of in vitro and in vivo approaches to describe the applicability of new approach methodologies (NAMs) for biotransformation assessments. Pollution-adapted and non-adapted F. grandis were subjected to intraperitoneal (IP) injections of BaP in time-course exposures, prior to measurements of CYP biotransformation activity, BaP liver concentrations, and the identification and quantification of phase I metabolites. Additionally, substrate depletion bioassays using liver S9 fractions were employed for measurements of intrinsic hepatic clearance and to evaluate the production of metabolites in vitro. Pollution-adapted F. grandis presented significantly lower CYP1A activity and intrinsic clearance rates that were 3 to 4 times lower than non-adapted fish. The metabolite profiling of BaP showed the presence of 1‑hydroxy-benzo[a]pyrene in both the in vitro and in vivo approaches but with no significant population differences. Contrarily, 9‑hydroxy-benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene-4,5-dihydrodiol, only identified through the in vivo approach, presented higher concentrations in the bile of pollution-adapted fish relative to non-adapted individuals. These observations further the understanding of the evolutionary adaptation of F. grandis inhabiting heavily polluted environments in the Houston Ship Channel, TX, USA, and highlight the need to consider the evolutionary history of populations of interest during the implementation of NAMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco E Franco
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, United States
| | - Alejandro J Ramirez
- Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, United States
| | | | - Cole W Matson
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, United States; Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, United States
| | - Ramon Lavado
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, United States.
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26
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Franco ME, Johanning K, Matson CW, Lavado R. Reduced biotransformation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in pollution-adapted Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis). Sci Total Environ 2022; 806:150854. [PMID: 34655636 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic pollution represents a significant source of selection, potentially leading to the emergence of evolutionary adaptations in chronically exposed organisms. A recent example of this scenario corresponds to Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis) populations inhabiting the Houston Ship Channel (HSC), Texas, USA, which have been documented to have adapted to this heavily contaminated environment. Although not fully elucidated, one particularly important aspect of their adaptation involves the reduced inducibility of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and, potentially, the alteration of major biotransformation pathways. In the present study, we employed a modified Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 319-B test guideline to explore population and sex-related differences in the hepatic biotransformation of six polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in F. grandis populations with different exposure histories. Pollution-adapted F. grandis showed significantly lower hepatic clearance of PAHs than non-adapted fish, especially for high molecular weight PAHs (chrysene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene), with pollution-adapted females presenting the lowest clearance. The characterization of different phase I biotransformation enzymes revealed that the basal activity of CYP1A, fundamental in the biotransformation of PAHs, was significantly lower in pollution-adapted fish, especially in females, which showed the lowest activity. Contrarily, basal CYP2C9-like activity was significantly higher in pollution-adapted fish. These results demonstrate the importance of exposure and evolutionary histories in shaping organisms' responses to pollution and provide significant evidence of sex-specific biotransformation differences in F. grandis populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco E Franco
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, United States of America
| | - Karla Johanning
- KJ Scientific, LLC, Georgetown, TX 78626, United States of America
| | - Cole W Matson
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, United States of America; Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, United States of America
| | - Ramon Lavado
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, United States of America.
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Vanhunsel S, Bergmans S, Beckers A, Etienne I, Van Bergen T, De Groef L, Moons L. The age factor in optic nerve regeneration: Intrinsic and extrinsic barriers hinder successful recovery in the short-living killifish. Aging Cell 2022; 21:e13537. [PMID: 34927348 PMCID: PMC8761009 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
As the mammalian central nervous system matures, its regenerative ability decreases, leading to incomplete or non-recovery from the neurodegenerative diseases and central nervous system insults that we are increasingly facing in our aging world population. Current neuroregenerative research is largely directed toward identifying the molecular and cellular players that underlie central nervous system repair, yet it repeatedly ignores the aging context in which many of these diseases appear. Using an optic nerve crush model in a novel biogerontology model, that is, the short-living African turquoise killifish, the impact of aging on injury-induced optic nerve repair was investigated. This work reveals an age-related decline in axonal regeneration in female killifish, with different phases of the repair process being affected depending on the age. Interestingly, as in mammals, both a reduced intrinsic growth potential and a non-supportive cellular environment seem to lie at the basis of this impairment. Overall, we introduce the killifish visual system and its age-dependent regenerative ability as a model to identify new targets for neurorepair in non-regenerating individuals, thereby also considering the effects of aging on neurorepair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Vanhunsel
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research GroupAnimal Physiology and Neurobiology SectionDepartment of BiologyKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - Steven Bergmans
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research GroupAnimal Physiology and Neurobiology SectionDepartment of BiologyKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | - An Beckers
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research GroupAnimal Physiology and Neurobiology SectionDepartment of BiologyKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
| | | | | | - Lies De Groef
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research GroupAnimal Physiology and Neurobiology SectionDepartment of BiologyKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Leuven Brain InstituteLeuvenBelgium
| | - Lieve Moons
- Neural Circuit Development and Regeneration Research GroupAnimal Physiology and Neurobiology SectionDepartment of BiologyKU LeuvenLeuvenBelgium
- Leuven Brain InstituteLeuvenBelgium
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28
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Godoy RS, Weber V, Lanés LEK, Reichard M, Gemelli T, Hohendorff RV, Maltchik L. Recognizing the enemy: do predator cues influence hatching in Neotropical annual killifish? J Fish Biol 2021; 99:1476-1484. [PMID: 34287870 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Annual fish species have evolved complex adaptations to survive in temporary wetlands. The main adaptation of these fish is the ability to produce embryos that survive dry periods. Embryo development of this fish can show variation at multiple levels influenced by many environmental factors, such as photoperiod and temperature. Predator cues are another factor that can influence the embryonic stage. One way in which annual fish could adapt to predators is by using risk-spreading strategies (through bet-hedging). Nonetheless, this strategy depends on the coevolutionary history between predators and preys and on the degree of environmental unpredictability, resulting in different responses across different species. This study investigated the influence of predator cues on the embryonic development and hatching of two Austrolebias species that inhabit ponds that present differences in hydroperiod and the risk of predator presence. The results confirmed a differentiated response between the two annual fish species tested, corroborating the modulation of hatching against the risk of predation by native predatory fish. The authors further showed that development times varied between the two annual fish species, regardless of the presence of predators. They highlight that the variation in embryonic development is strongly affected by different levels of hydroperiod unpredictability faced by the two species. To unravel finer-scale local adaptations in the annual fish embryo development, future studies should focus on a region with greater spatial gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robson S Godoy
- Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems, UNISINOS University, São Leopoldo, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Weber
- Laboratory of Ecology and Conservation of Aquatic Ecosystems, UNISINOS University, São Leopoldo, Brazil
| | - Luis Esteban Krause Lanés
- Conservation Physiology Laboratory, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Martin Reichard
- Institute of Vertebrate Biology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
- Institute of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tanise Gemelli
- Nutrition and Food, UNISINOS University, São Leopoldo, Brazil
| | | | - Leonardo Maltchik
- Postgraduate Program in Biology of Continental Aquatic Environments, Federal University of Rio Grande, FURG, Rio Grande, Brazil
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29
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Domínguez-Castanedo O. Agonistic interactions with asymmetric body size in two adult-age groups of the annual killifish Millerichthys robustus (Miller & Hubbs, 1974). J Fish Biol 2021; 99:773-781. [PMID: 33864699 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
In this study, the author evaluated two adult age groups of the Mexican rivulus Millerichthys robustus with body size asymmetries to determine the strategies used by an annual killifish during agonistic interactions of different ontogenetic stages. To achieve this goal, the author first characterized the ethogram of agonistic interactions of M. robustus composed of seven behavioural units in males and five behavioural units in females. The author then analysed agonistic interaction strategies used by males and females with body size asymmetries in two groups of different adult ages that represent different ontogenetic stages: (a) just after sexual maturity was reached, at 5 weeks of age, and (b) near natural death, at 24 weeks of age. The agonistic behaviour patterns of M. robustus were compatible with the logic of mutual assessment. Large males had an advantage during their interactions in both age groups, winning all of the encounters. Nonetheless, there was more aggression in 5-week-old fish encounters. In addition, small 24-week-old fish were more aggressive than small 5-week-old fish. These changing strategies may be because of the cost-benefits required during a fight at each ontogenetic stage. In the female encounters, size did not predict winners, as both small and large fish won a similar number of encounters, and some contests remained unresolved regardless of age group. There was a tendency for small females of any age to risk more than males in fights to maintain reproductive fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Domínguez-Castanedo
- Departamento El Hombre y su Ambiente, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana unidad Xochimilco, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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30
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Lau SC, Mehdi H, Bragg LM, Servos MR, Balshine S, Scott GR. Exposure to wastewater effluent disrupts hypoxia responses in killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus). Environ Pollut 2021; 284:117373. [PMID: 34077896 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Hypoxia (low oxygen) often occurs in aquatic ecosystems that receive effluent from municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). The combination of hypoxia and WWTP effluent could impair fish health, because WWTP effluent contains multiple contaminants that could disrupt the physiological pathways fish use to cope with hypoxia, but the interactive effects of these stressors on fish physiology are poorly understood. We have examined this issue by exposing mummichog killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) to hypoxia (5 and 2 kPa O2) and/or 100% WWTP effluent for 21 days in a full factorial design. We then measured hypoxia tolerance, whole-animal metabolism, gill morphology, haematology, and tissue metabolites. In clean water, killifish responded to chronic hypoxia with improvements in hypoxia tolerance, as reflected by increases in time to loss of equilibrium at 0.5 kPa (tLOE). These improvements occurred in association with increases in the exposed surface of gill lamellae that resulted from a regression of interlamellar cell mass (ILCM). Concurrent exposure to wastewater attenuated the increases in tLOE and gill remodeling in chronic hypoxia, and nearly depleted brain glycogen stores. Therefore, exposure to WWTP effluent can disrupt the physiological mechanisms fish use to cope with chronic hypoxia and impair hypoxia tolerance. Our research suggests that the combination of stressors near WWTPs can have interactive effects on the physiology and health of fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha C Lau
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Hossein Mehdi
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Leslie M Bragg
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Mark R Servos
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Sigal Balshine
- Department of Psychology, Neuroscience, and Behaviour, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Graham R Scott
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada.
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31
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Okyere I, Obeng JA, Ayitey S, Van der Zee JR, Meeus H. Spawning habits and embryonic development of the banded lampeye killifish Aplocheilichthys spilauchen (Duméril 1861) in ex situ fresh and brackish water environments. J Fish Biol 2021; 99:411-417. [PMID: 33733481 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Aside from ornamental uses, there is growing interest in using killifishes for a multiplicity of purposes including baitfish and mosquito biocontrol. This experiment explored the spawning habits and embryonic development of the banded lampeye, Aplocheilichthys spilauchen in ex situ freshwater (0.04‰) and brackish water (5.01‰) to ascertain the captive breeding prospects for mosquito control in areas where they occur. Significantly higher number of eggs were laid in the brackish water than the freshwater (X2 = 1613.0, P < 0.05), and black mop was the most preferred spawning substrate, followed by green, blue and white mops. Microscopic monitoring of embryos revealed that cleavage occurred within the first 30 min after fertilization, organogenesis commenced on average in the 25th hour and hatching in approximately 230 h. Although freshwater eggs were relatively bigger than brackish water eggs and certain embryonic developmental stages occurred faster in the freshwater than brackish water, these differences were overall not significant and had no effects on the development and hatching. The observed outcome that A. spilauchen can be optimally propagated with black mops in brackish water offers a significant step in its use for the mosquito biocontrol programme, as well as other potential uses not yet explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac Okyere
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
- Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR), University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Juliet Afrah Obeng
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
- Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR), University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | - Samuel Ayitey
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
| | | | - Herman Meeus
- Belgian Killifish Association, Wommelgem, Belgium
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32
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Calixto-Rojas M, Lira-Noriega A, Rubio-Godoy M, Pérez-Ponce de León G, Pinacho-Pinacho CD. Phylogenetic relationships and ecological niche conservatism in killifish (Pro fundulidae) in Mesoamerica. J Fish Biol 2021; 99:396-410. [PMID: 33733482 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The family Profundulidae is a group of small-sized fish species distributed between southern Mexico and Honduras, where they are frequently the only fish representatives at higher elevations in the basins where they occur. We characterized their ecological niche using different methods and metrics drawn from niche modelling and by re-examining phylogenetic relationships of a recently published molecular phylogeny of this family to gain a better understanding of its biogeographic and evolutionary history. We assessed both lines of evidence from the perspective of niche conservatism to set a foundation for discussing hypotheses about the processes underlying the distribution and evolution of the group. In fish clades where the species composition is not clear, we examined whether niche classification could be informative to discriminate groups geographically and ecologically consistent with any of the different hypotheses of valid species. The characterization of the ecological niche was carried out using the Maxent algorithm under different parameterizations and the projection of the presence on the main components of the most relevant environmental coverage, and the niche comparison was calculated with two indices (D and I), both in environmental space and in that projected geographically. With the molecular data, a species tree was generated using the *BEAST method. The comparison of these data was calculated with an age-overlap correlation test. Based on the molecular phylogeny and on niche overlap analyses, we uncovered strong evidence to support the idea that ecologically similar species are not necessarily sister species. The correlation analysis for genetic distance and niche overlap was not significant (P > 0.05). In clades with taxonomic conflicts, we only identified Profundulus oaxacae as a geographically and ecologically distinct group from P. punctatus. All the evidence considered leads us to propose that Profundulidae do not show evidence of niche conservatism and that there are reasons to consider P. oaxacae as a valid species. Our study suggests that niche divergence is a driving evolutionary force that caused the diversification and speciation processes of the Profundulidae, along with the geological and climatic events that promoted the expansion or contraction of suitable environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Calixto-Rojas
- Doctorado en Ciencias, Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Andrés Lira-Noriega
- CONACyT Research Fellow, Instituto de Ecología A. C., Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351, Veracruz, Mexico
| | - Miguel Rubio-Godoy
- Instituto de Ecología, A.C., Red de Biología Evolutiva, Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351, Veracruz, Mexico
| | | | - Carlos D Pinacho-Pinacho
- CONACyT Research Fellow, Instituto de Ecología A. C., Red de Estudios Moleculares Avanzados, Carretera Antigua a Coatepec 351, Veracruz, Mexico
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Redfern LK, Jayasundara N, Singleton DR, Di Giulio RT, Carlson J, Sumner SJ, Gunsch CK. The role of gut microbial community and metabolomic shifts in adaptive resistance of Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Sci Total Environ 2021; 776:145955. [PMID: 33647645 PMCID: PMC8294123 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Altered gut microbiomes may play a role in rapid evolution to anthropogenic change but remain poorly understood. Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) in the Elizabeth River, VA have evolved resistance to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and provide a unique opportunity to examine the links between shifts in the commensal microbiome and organismal physiology associated with evolved resistance. Here, 16S rRNA sequence libraries derived from fish guts and sediments sampled from a highly PAH contaminated site revealed significant differences collected at similar samples from an uncontaminated site. Phylogenetic groups enriched in the libraries derived from PAH-resistant fish were dissimilar to their associated sediment libraries, suggesting the specific environment within the PAH-resistant fish intestine influence the gut microbiome composition. Gut metabolite analysis revealed shifts between PAH-resistant and non-resistant subpopulations. Notably, PAH-resistant fish exhibited reduced levels of tryptophan and increased levels of sphingolipids. Exposure to PAHs appears to impact several bacterial in the gut microbiome, particularly sphingolipid containing bacteria. Bacterial phylotypes known to include species containing sphingolipids were generally lower in the intestines of fish subpopulations exposed to high concentrations of PAHs, inferring a complex host-microbiome relationship. Overall, killifish microbial community shifts appear to be related to a suppression of overall metabolite level, indicating a potential role of the gut in organismal response to anthropogenic environmental change. These results on microbial and metabolomics shifts are potentially linked to altered bioenergetic phenotype observed in the same PAH-resistant killifish populations in other studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren K Redfern
- Pratt School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27713, United States of America; Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Myers, FL 33965, United States of America
| | - Nishad Jayasundara
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27713, United States of America
| | - David R Singleton
- Pratt School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27713, United States of America
| | - Richard T Di Giulio
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27713, United States of America
| | - James Carlson
- Alternative BioMedical Solutions, Carrollton, TX 75006, United States of America
| | - Susan J Sumner
- Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States of America
| | - Claudia K Gunsch
- Pratt School of Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27713, United States of America.
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34
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Thoré ESJ, Philippe C, Brendonck L, Pinceel T. Towards improved fish tests in ecotoxicology - Efficient chronic and multi-generational testing with the killifish Nothobranchius furzeri. Chemosphere 2021; 273:129697. [PMID: 33517116 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2020] [Revised: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
As many freshwaters are chemically polluted, one of the challenges for policy makers is to determine the potential impact of these pollutants on ecosystems and to define safe concentrations. Common practice is the use of ecotoxicological assays to assess the response of model organisms from different trophic levels such as algae, invertebrates and fish during exposure to dilutions of a specific compound. Ideally, ecotoxicological assessments of (pseudo-)persistent chemicals should be performed across the life-cycle or even multiple generations for an accurate risk assessment. Multigenerational tests with fish are, however, impractical and costly given the long lifespan and generation time of classic model species. Here, we suggest a framework for more relevant, time- and cost-efficient fish-based testing in ecotoxicology and align it with accredited test guidelines. Next, we introduce an upcoming fish model, the turquoise killifish Nothobranchius furzeri, and show how it facilitates such research agendas due to a short lifespan and generation time. Through a review of fish-based exposure studies with a set of reference toxicants, we position N. furzeri as a sensitive species, suitable for screening effects of different pollutant types. Ultimately, we perform a cost-benefit analysis and propose a plan of action for the introduction of N. furzeri into accredited test guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli S J Thoré
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Charlotte Philippe
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Luc Brendonck
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Tom Pinceel
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
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35
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Pérez-Albaladejo E, Solís A, Bani I, Porte C. PLHC-1 topminnow liver cells: An alternative model to investigate the toxicity of plastic additives in the aquatic environment. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2021; 208:111746. [PMID: 33396072 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Plasticizers are widespread environmental contaminants that have been described as obesogens in terrestrial vertebrates. However, its effects on fish lipids homeostasis are almost unknown. This work explores the use of PLHC-1 cells as an alternative model to assess the disruption of hepatic lipids by plastic additives and to gather information on the mode of action of these chemicals in fish. PLHC-1 lipid extracts were analyzed by flow injection coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (FIA-ESI(+/-)-Orbitrap-Exactive) after 24 h exposure of the cells to the selected plasticizers: dibutyl phthalate (DBP), di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol F (BPF), and chlorinated bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE·2HCl). The analysis of the culture medium and the intracellular concentration of the chemicals revealed the highest bioconcentration of BADGE·2HCl, DBP and DEHP, which was in agreement with the strongest alteration of the cells lipidome. BADGE·2HCl induced a significant depletion of triacylglycerides (TGs), while DEHP and DBP stimulated the accumulation of TGs. Exposure to BPF induced the generation of reactive oxygen species in PLHC-1 cells and a significant depletion of phosphatidylcholine (PC)- and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)-plasmalogens, and TGs (cell depots of polyunsaturated fatty acids). Overall, this study evidences different modes of action of plastic additives in topminnow liver cells, describes differential lipidomic signatures, and highlights the higher lipotoxicity of BADGE·2HCl and BPF compared to BPA.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alejandra Solís
- Environmental Chemistry Department, IDAEA -CSIC-, C/ Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ilaria Bani
- Environmental Chemistry Department, IDAEA -CSIC-, C/ Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cinta Porte
- Environmental Chemistry Department, IDAEA -CSIC-, C/ Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
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Gurung S, Dubansky B, Virgen CA, Verbeck GF, Murphy DW. Effects of crude oil vapors on the cardiovascular flow of embryonic Gulf killifish. Sci Total Environ 2021; 751:141627. [PMID: 33181982 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/09/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Direct contact with toxicants in crude oil during embryogenesis causes cardiovascular defects, but the effects of exposure to airborne volatile organic compounds released from spilled oil are not well understood. The effects of crude oil-derived airborne toxicants on peripheral blood flow were examined in Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis) since this model completes embryogenesis in the air. Particle image velocimetry was used to measure in vivo blood flow in intersegmental arteries of control and oil-exposed embryos. Significant effects in oil-exposed embryos included increased pulse rate, reduced mean blood flow speed and volumetric flow rate, and decreased pulsatility, demonstrating that normal-appearing oil-exposed embryos retain underlying cardiovascular defects. Further, hematocrit moderately increased in oil-exposed embryos. This study highlights the potential for fine-scale physiological measurement techniques to better understand the sub-lethal effects of oil exposure and demonstrates the efficacy of Gulf killifish as a unique teleost model for aerial toxicant exposure studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjib Gurung
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, United States
| | - Benjamin Dubansky
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, United States
| | - Camila A Virgen
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, United States
| | - Guido F Verbeck
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, United States
| | - David W Murphy
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, United States.
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Ohkubo N, Ito M, Hano T, Kono K, Mochida K. Estimation of the uptake and gut retention of microplastics in juvenile marine fish: Mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus) and red seabreams (Pagrus major). Mar Pollut Bull 2020; 160:111630. [PMID: 32911116 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the impact of microplastics (MPs) on marine fish by estimating the uptake and retention by mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus) and red seabreams (Pagrus major) of MPs similar in size (≥0.25 mm) and composition (polyethylene) to MPs detected in fish intestines. Results revealed a correlation between MP concentrations in aquarium water and the content of MPs in the gastrointestinal tracts of exposed fish. More than 95% were excreted from both species within 25 h; this retention time is similar to the processing time of food items. The rate of excretion showed little dependence on MP size, but there was some dependence on fish species and MP shape. These results suggest that MPs similar to those we studied have little direct adverse impact on these two marine fish species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuyuki Ohkubo
- National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 2-17-5 Maruishi, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0452, Japan.
| | - Mana Ito
- National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 2-17-5 Maruishi, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0452, Japan
| | - Takeshi Hano
- National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 2-17-5 Maruishi, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0452, Japan
| | - Kumiko Kono
- National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 2-17-5 Maruishi, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0452, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Mochida
- National Research Institute of Fisheries and Environment of Inland Sea, Fisheries Research and Education Agency, 2-17-5 Maruishi, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0452, Japan
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38
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Zajic DE, Podrabsky JE. GABA metabolism is crucial for long-term survival of anoxia in annual killifish embryos. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb229716. [PMID: 32859669 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.229716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
In most vertebrates, a lack of oxygen quickly leads to irreparable damages to vital organs, such as the brain and heart. However, there are some vertebrates that have evolved mechanisms to survive periods of no oxygen (anoxia). The annual killifish (Austrofundulus limnaeus) survives in ephemeral ponds in the coastal deserts of Venezuela and their embryos have the remarkable ability to tolerate anoxia for months. When exposed to anoxia, embryos of A. limnaeus respond by producing significant amounts of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). This study aims to understand the role of GABA in supporting the metabolic response to anoxia. To explore this, we investigated four developmentally distinct stages of A. limnaeus embryos that vary in their anoxia tolerance. We measured GABA and lactate concentrations across development in response to anoxia and aerobic recovery. We then inhibited enzymes responsible for the production and degradation of GABA and observed GABA and lactate concentrations, as well as embryo mortality. Here, we show for the first time that GABA metabolism affects anoxia tolerance in A. limnaeus embryos. Inhibition of enzymes responsible for GABA production (glutamate decarboxylase) and degradation (GABA-transaminase and succinic acid semialdehyde dehydrogenase) led to increased mortality, supporting a role for GABA as an intermediate product and not a metabolic end-product. We propose multiple roles for GABA during anoxia and aerobic recovery in A. limnaeus embryos, serving as a neurotransmitter, an energy source, and an anti-oxidant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E Zajic
- Department of Biology, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland, OR 97207, USA
- Health, Human Performance, and Athletics Department, Linfield University, 900 SE Baker, McMinnville, OR 97128, USA
| | - Jason E Podrabsky
- Department of Biology, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland, OR 97207, USA
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39
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Thoré ESJ, Philippe C, Brendonck L, Pinceel T. Antidepressant exposure reduces body size, increases fecundity and alters social behavior in the short-lived killifish Nothobranchius furzeri. Environ Pollut 2020; 265:115068. [PMID: 32806394 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Social and mating behavior are fundamental fitness determinants in fish. Although fish are increasingly exposed to pharmaceutical compounds that may alter expression of such behavior, potential effects are understudied. Here, we examine the impact of lifelong exposure to two concentrations (0.7 and 5.3 μg/L) of the antidepressant fluoxetine on fecundity and social behavior (i.e. sociability and male-male aggression) in the turquoise killifish, Nothobranchius furzeri. When exposed to the highest concentration of fluoxetine (5.3 μg/L), fish were smaller at maturation but they more frequently engaged in mating. In addition, in both fluoxetine treatments females roughly doubled their overall fecundity while egg fertilization rates were the same for exposed and unexposed fish. Although aggression of male fish was not impacted by fluoxetine exposure, exposed male fish (5.3 μg/L) spent more time in the proximity of a group of conspecifics, which implies an increased sociability in these individuals. Overall, the results of this study indicate that exposure to fluoxetine may result in disrupted male sociability, increased mating frequency and an increased reproductive output in fish populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli S J Thoré
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Charlotte Philippe
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Luc Brendonck
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | - Tom Pinceel
- Animal Ecology, Global Change and Sustainable Development, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; Centre for Environmental Management, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
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Zajic DE, Nicholson JP, Podrabsky JE. No water, no problem: stage-specific metabolic responses to dehydration stress in annual killifish embryos. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb231985. [PMID: 32778566 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.231985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Annual killifish survive in temporary ponds by producing drought-tolerant embryos that can enter metabolic dormancy (diapause). Survival of dehydration stress is achieved through severe reduction of evaporative water loss. We assessed dehydration stress tolerance in diapausing and developing Austrofundulus limnaeus embryos. We measured oxygen consumption rates under aquatic and aerial conditions to test the hypothesis that there is a trade-off between water retention and oxygen permeability. Diapausing embryos survive dehydrating conditions for over 1.5 years, and post-diapause stages can survive for over 100 days. Diapausing embryos respond to dehydration stress by increasing oxygen consumption rates while post-diapause embryos exhibit the same or reduced rates compared with aquatic embryos. Thus, water retention does not always limit oxygen diffusion. Aerial incubation coupled with hypoxia causes some embryos to arrest development. The observed stage-specific responses are consistent with an intrinsic bet-hedging strategy in embryos that would increase developmental variation in a potentially adaptive manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel E Zajic
- Department of Biology, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland, OR 97207, USA
- Health, Human Performance, and Athletics Department, Linfield University, 900 SE Baker, McMinnville, OR 97128, USA
| | - Jonathon P Nicholson
- Department of Biology, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland, OR 97207, USA
| | - Jason E Podrabsky
- Department of Biology, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland, OR 97207, USA
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41
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Willemsen D, Cui R, Reichard M, Valenzano DR. Intra-species differences in population size shape life history and genome evolution. eLife 2020; 9:e55794. [PMID: 32869739 PMCID: PMC7462614 DOI: 10.7554/elife.55794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The evolutionary forces shaping life history divergence within species are largely unknown. Turquoise killifish display differences in lifespan among wild populations, representing an ideal natural experiment in evolution and diversification of life history. By combining genome sequencing and population genetics, we investigate the evolutionary forces shaping lifespan among wild turquoise killifish populations. We generate an improved reference genome assembly and identify genes under positive and purifying selection, as well as those evolving neutrally. Short-lived populations from the outer margin of the species range have small population size and accumulate deleterious mutations in genes significantly enriched in the WNT signaling pathway, neurodegeneration, cancer and the mTOR pathway. We propose that limited population size due to habitat fragmentation and repeated population bottlenecks, by increasing the genome-wide mutation load, exacerbates the effects of mutation accumulation and cumulatively contribute to the short adult lifespan.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rongfeng Cui
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of AgeingCologneGermany
| | - Martin Reichard
- Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate BiologyBrnoCzech Republic
- Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk UniversityBrnoCzech Republic
| | - Dario Riccardo Valenzano
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of AgeingCologneGermany
- CECAD, University of CologneCologneGermany
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42
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Rossi GS, Cochrane PV, Wright PA. Fluctuating environments during early development can limit adult phenotypic flexibility: insights from an amphibious fish. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb228304. [PMID: 32616545 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.228304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The interaction between developmental plasticity and the capacity for reversible acclimation (phenotypic flexibility) is poorly understood, particularly in organisms exposed to fluctuating environments. We used an amphibious killifish (Kryptolebias marmoratus) to test the hypotheses that organisms reared in fluctuating environments (i) will make no developmental changes to suit any one environment because fixing traits to suit one environment could be maladaptive for another, and (ii) will be highly phenotypically flexible as adults because their early life experiences predict high environmental variability in the future. We reared fish under constant (water) or fluctuating (water-air) environments until adulthood and assessed a suite of traits along the oxygen cascade (e.g. neuroepithelial cell density and size, cutaneous capillarity, gill morphology, ventricle size, red muscle morphometrics, terrestrial locomotor performance). To evaluate the capacity for phenotypic flexibility, a subset of adult fish from each rearing condition was then air-exposed for 14 days before the same traits were measured. In support of the developmental plasticity hypothesis, traits involved with O2 sensing and uptake were largely unaffected by water-air fluctuations during early life, but we found marked developmental changes in traits related to O2 transport, utilization and locomotor performance. In contrast, we found no evidence supporting the phenotypic flexibility hypothesis. Adult fish from both rearing conditions exhibited the same degree of phenotypic flexibility in various O2 sensing- and uptake-related traits. In other cases, water-air fluctuations attenuated adult phenotypic flexibility despite the fact that phenotypic flexibility is hypothesized to be favoured when environments fluctuate. Overall, we conclude that exposure to environmental fluctuations during development in K. marmoratus can dramatically alter the constitutive adult phenotype, as well as diminish the scope for phenotypic flexibility in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia S Rossi
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Paige V Cochrane
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
| | - Patricia A Wright
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada N1G 2W1
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43
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Reemeyer JE, Rees BB. Plasticity, repeatability and phenotypic correlations of aerobic metabolic traits in a small estuarine fish. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb.228098. [PMID: 32587069 DOI: 10.1101/2020.05.01.072587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Standard metabolic rate (SMR), maximum metabolic rate (MMR), absolute aerobic scope (AAS) and critical oxygen tension (Pcrit) were determined for the Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis, an ecologically dominant estuarine fish, acclimated to lowered salinity, elevated temperature and lowered oxygen concentration. Acclimation to low salinity resulted in a small, but significant, elevation of Pcrit (suggesting lower tolerance of hypoxia); acclimation to elevated temperature increased SMR, MMR, AAS and Pcrit; acclimation to low oxygen led to a small increase in SMR, but substantial decreases in MMR, AAS and Pcrit Variation in these metabolic traits among individuals was consistent and repeatable when measured during multiple control exposures over 7 months. Trait repeatability was unaffected by acclimation condition, suggesting that repeatability of these traits is not context dependent. There were significant phenotypic correlations between specific metabolic traits: SMR was positively correlated with MMR and Pcrit; MMR was positively correlated with AAS; and AAS was negatively correlated with Pcrit In general, within-individual variation contributed more than among-individual variation to these phenotypic correlations. The effects of acclimation on these traits demonstrate that aerobic metabolism is plastic and influenced by the conditions experienced by these fish in the dynamic habitats in which they occur; however, the repeatability of these traits and the correlations among them suggest that these traits change in ways that maintain the rank order of performance among individuals across a range of environmental variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Reemeyer
- University of New Orleans, Department of Biological Sciences, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA
| | - Bernard B Rees
- University of New Orleans, Department of Biological Sciences, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA
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44
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Reemeyer JE, Rees BB. Plasticity, repeatability and phenotypic correlations of aerobic metabolic traits in a small estuarine fish. J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb228098. [PMID: 32587069 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.228098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Standard metabolic rate (SMR), maximum metabolic rate (MMR), absolute aerobic scope (AAS) and critical oxygen tension (Pcrit) were determined for the Gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis, an ecologically dominant estuarine fish, acclimated to lowered salinity, elevated temperature and lowered oxygen concentration. Acclimation to low salinity resulted in a small, but significant, elevation of Pcrit (suggesting lower tolerance of hypoxia); acclimation to elevated temperature increased SMR, MMR, AAS and Pcrit; acclimation to low oxygen led to a small increase in SMR, but substantial decreases in MMR, AAS and Pcrit Variation in these metabolic traits among individuals was consistent and repeatable when measured during multiple control exposures over 7 months. Trait repeatability was unaffected by acclimation condition, suggesting that repeatability of these traits is not context dependent. There were significant phenotypic correlations between specific metabolic traits: SMR was positively correlated with MMR and Pcrit; MMR was positively correlated with AAS; and AAS was negatively correlated with Pcrit In general, within-individual variation contributed more than among-individual variation to these phenotypic correlations. The effects of acclimation on these traits demonstrate that aerobic metabolism is plastic and influenced by the conditions experienced by these fish in the dynamic habitats in which they occur; however, the repeatability of these traits and the correlations among them suggest that these traits change in ways that maintain the rank order of performance among individuals across a range of environmental variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E Reemeyer
- University of New Orleans, Department of Biological Sciences, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA
| | - Bernard B Rees
- University of New Orleans, Department of Biological Sciences, 2000 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans, LA 70148, USA
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45
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Borowiec BG, Scott GR. Hypoxia acclimation alters reactive oxygen species homeostasis and oxidative status in estuarine killifish ( Fundulus heteroclitus). J Exp Biol 2020; 223:jeb222877. [PMID: 32457064 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.222877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Hypoxia is common in aquatic environments, and exposure to hypoxia followed by re-oxygenation is often believed to induce oxidative stress. However, there have been relatively few studies of reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis and oxidative status in fish that experience natural hypoxia-re-oxygenation cycles. We examined how exposure to acute hypoxia (2 kPa O2) and subsequent re-oxygenation (to 20 kPa O2) affects redox status, oxidative damage and anti-oxidant defenses in estuarine killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus), and whether these effects were ameliorated or potentiated by prolonged (28 days) acclimation to either constant hypoxia or intermittent cycles of nocturnal hypoxia (12 h:12 h normoxia:hypoxia). Acute hypoxia and re-oxygenation led to some modest and transient changes in redox status, increases in oxidized glutathione, depletion of scavenging capacity and oxidative damage to lipids in skeletal muscle. The liver had greater scavenging capacity, total glutathione concentrations and activities of anti-oxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase) than muscle, and generally experienced less variation in glutathiones and lipid peroxidation. Unexpectedly, acclimation to constant hypoxia or intermittent hypoxia led to a more oxidizing redox status (muscle and liver) and it increased oxidized glutathione (muscle). However, hypoxia-acclimated fish exhibited little to no oxidative damage (as reflected by lipid peroxidation and aconitase activity), in association with improvements in scavenging capacity and catalase activity in muscle. We conclude that hypoxia acclimation leads to adjustments in ROS homeostasis and oxidative status that do not reflect oxidative stress, but may instead be part of the suite of responses that killifish use to cope with chronic hypoxia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Graham R Scott
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada, L8S 4L8
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46
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Yoğurtçuoğlu B, Uyan U, Ekmekçi FG. The influence of environmental instability on the reproductive strategy of the critically endangered Acıgöl killifish (Aphanius transgrediens). J Fish Biol 2020; 97:246-256. [PMID: 32333807 DOI: 10.1111/jfb.14358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
To investigate the variability in the reproductive tactics of Acıgöl killifish (Aphanius transgrediens), one of the most seriously threatened freshwater teleost species, this study compared its reproductive ecology in two contrasting habitats that differ substantially in terms of stability of environmental parameters, particularly salinity regime (stable vs. unstable). Fish were sampled monthly from October 2013 to September 2014 with the aim of testing whether the reproductive life-history response of fish to stable and unstable conditions differed. The reproductive effort (gonad weight) of both sexes did not differ significantly between the two habitats, but females in the unstable habitat had significantly lower fecundity and larger eggs. The relationship between fecundity and fish size was stronger in the stable habitat, whereas the relationship was quite variable and uncertain in the unstable habitat. Fish born in the unstable habitat reached their first maturity at a smaller size than those in the stable habitat. The gonado-somatic index and the duration of hydrated eggs showed that reproduction continued from February to May in both habitats; nonetheless, a second spawning event occurred during July and August in the unstable habitat, which included the reproductive contributions of YOY individuals and older generations. This study's results suggest that A. transgrediens employs varying reproductive strategies against environmental instability in its restricted unique range. This may have further implications for the ways in which habitat-specific conservation methods are used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baran Yoğurtçuoğlu
- Faculty of Science, Biology Department, Hydrobiology Section, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Umut Uyan
- Skretting Turkey, Güllük Milas, Muğla, Turkey
| | - F Güler Ekmekçi
- Faculty of Science, Biology Department, Hydrobiology Section, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
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47
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Butler JD, Varghese L, Deb N, Thornhill B. Extending international toxicity testing guidance to middle eastern test species. Sci Total Environ 2020; 716:136343. [PMID: 32000997 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The Arabian Gulf is a dynamic environment with unique habitats located in the Middle East. The inhabitants of this ecosystem have historically been understudied and a lack of reliable toxicity data exists to benchmark their sensitivities. Current international testing guidelines (i.e. Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), International Standard Organization (ISO), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), etc.) do not reference relevant species for this region of the world. This research focuses on developing standard test conditions for relevant test organisms indigenous to the Middle East region while maintaining general agreement with international testing guidelines. A copepod, cyanobacteria and juvenile killifish were selected as local test organisms to perform acute exposures to 4 Aromatic Hydrocarbons (AHs) ranging in log KOW from 3.88-5.19, 1-methylnaphthalene, phenanthrene, biphenyl and octahydrophenanthrene. Acute test durations were 48, 72 and 96 h and generally followed ISO 14669, OECD 201 and 203 for the copepod, algae and killifish respectively. To deliver and maintain controlled exposure concentrations, a passive dosing (PD) format was employed. PD effectively maintained aqueous exposure concentration of the AHs tested over the test duration. Effects data were comparable to literature values for similar taxonomic groupings. Critical target lipid body burden's for test species used were calculated and found to be in agreement with those predicted by the Target Lipid Model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josh D Butler
- Environmental Management Division, ExxonMobil Research Qatar, Qatar Science and Technology Park, Tech 2, PO Box 22500, Al Wosail Tower, Doha, Qatar.
| | - Linso Varghese
- Environmental Management Division, ExxonMobil Research Qatar, Qatar Science and Technology Park, Tech 2, PO Box 22500, Al Wosail Tower, Doha, Qatar
| | - Nandita Deb
- Environmental Management Division, ExxonMobil Research Qatar, Qatar Science and Technology Park, Tech 2, PO Box 22500, Al Wosail Tower, Doha, Qatar
| | - Bernice Thornhill
- Environmental Management Division, ExxonMobil Research Qatar, Qatar Science and Technology Park, Tech 2, PO Box 22500, Al Wosail Tower, Doha, Qatar
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Ruiz-Palacios M, Almeida M, Martins MA, Oliveira M, Esteban MÁ, Cuesta A. Establishment of a brain cell line (FuB-1) from mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) and its application to fish virology, immunity and nanoplastics toxicology. Sci Total Environ 2020; 708:134821. [PMID: 31791770 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The marine fish mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus), extensively used as research model, including in ecotoxicology, for over a century has been surpassed by other fish species. This fact may be associated with the lack of cell lines from this species, excellent models for the comprehension of fish physiology, immunology, toxicology and virology, that contribute to the reduction in the number of animals used in research. We have generated, for the first time, a brain-derived cell line from mummichog, FuB-1, and evaluated its application to the fields of fish virology, immunity and toxicology. First, FuB-1 cells show epithelial morphology and neural stem/astroglial origin. Secondly, FuB-1 cells effectively supports the replication of both spring viremia carp (SVCV) and infectious pancreatic necrosis (IPNV) viruses, but not nodavirus (NNV), indicating its potential use for fish virology. Related to this, FuB-1 cells infected with NNV up-regulate the transcription of genes related to the antiviral immune response, leading to cell resistance; while they are unaltered when infected with IPNV and SVCV, facilitating viral replication. Finally, FuB-1 cells were used for toxicological purposes and we demonstrated that exposure to either polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-100) or several human-usage pharmaceuticals are cytotoxic. Additionally, PS-100 particles increase the antioxidant catalase and glutathione S-transferase activities and decrease the total non-protein thiols in FuB-1 cells. However, PS-100 particles are able to reduce the cytotoxic effects induced by the pharmaceuticals. In conclusion, we have generated a cell line from mummichog, which might represent a valuable model for fish studies in the fields of virology, immunology and toxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Ruiz-Palacios
- Fish Innate Immune System Group, Department of Cellular Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Mónica Almeida
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Manuel A Martins
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Miguel Oliveira
- Department of Biology & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - María Ángeles Esteban
- Fish Innate Immune System Group, Department of Cellular Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - Alberto Cuesta
- Fish Innate Immune System Group, Department of Cellular Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
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Crawford KA, Clark BW, Heiger-Bernays WJ, Karchner SI, Hahn ME, Nacci DE, Schlezinger JJ. Tributyltin disrupts fin development in Fundulus heteroclitus from both PCB-sensitive and resistant populations: Investigations of potential interactions between AHR and PPARγ. Aquat Toxicol 2020; 218:105334. [PMID: 31743820 PMCID: PMC6935467 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2019.105334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Tributyltin (TBT) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are environmental contaminants that are highly toxic to fish and co-occur in New Bedford Harbor (NBH), an estuarine Superfund site located in Massachusetts, USA. Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) that reside in NBH (and other highly contaminated sites along the east coast of the United States) have developed resistance to activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway and the toxicity of dioxin-like chemicals, such as 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl, PCB126. In many biological systems, TBT disregulates adipose and bone development via the PPARγ-RXR pathway; AHR activation also disrupts adipose and bone homeostasis, potentially through molecular crosstalk between AHR and PPARγ. However, little is known about how co-exposure and the interaction of these pathways modulate the toxicological effects of these contaminants. Here, we tested the hypotheses that TBT would induce teratogenesis in killifish via activation of PPARγ and that PCB126 co-exposure would suppress PPARγ pathway activation in PCB-sensitive killifish from a reference site (Scorton Creek, SC, PCB-sensitive) but not in PCB-tolerant NBH killifish. Killifish embryos from both populations exposed to TBT (50 and 100 nM) displayed caudal fin deformities. TBT did not change the expression of pparg or its target genes related to adipogenesis (fabp11a and fabp1b) in either population. However, expression of osx/sp7, an osteoblast marker gene, and col2a1b, a chondroblast marker gene, was significantly suppressed by TBT only in SC killifish. An RXR-specific agonist, but not a PPARγ-specific agonist, induced caudal fin deformities like those observed in TBT-treated embryos. PCB126 did not induce caudal fin deformities and did not exacerbate TBT-induced fin deformities. Further, PCB126 increased expression of pparg in SC embryos and not NBH embryos, but did not change the expression of fabp1b. Taken together, these results suggest that in killifish embryos the PPARγ pathway is regulated in part by AHR, but is minimally active at least in this early life stage. In killifish, RXR activation, rather than PPARγ activation, appears to be the mechanism by which TBT induces caudal fin teratogenicity, which is not modulated by AHR responsiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- K A Crawford
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Boston University Superfund Research Program, Boston, MA, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education at Atlantic Ecology Division, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - B W Clark
- Boston University Superfund Research Program, Boston, MA, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education at Atlantic Ecology Division, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - W J Heiger-Bernays
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Boston University Superfund Research Program, Boston, MA, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education at Atlantic Ecology Division, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - S I Karchner
- Boston University Superfund Research Program, Boston, MA, USA; Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education at Atlantic Ecology Division, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - M E Hahn
- Boston University Superfund Research Program, Boston, MA, USA; Biology Department, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, MA, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education at Atlantic Ecology Division, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - D E Nacci
- Atlantic Ecology Division, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education at Atlantic Ecology Division, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, USA
| | - J J Schlezinger
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Boston University Superfund Research Program, Boston, MA, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education at Atlantic Ecology Division, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI, USA.
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Deegan AM, Steinhauer RB, Feinn RS, Moeller MC, Pylypiw HM, Nabel M, Kovelowski CJ, Kaplan LAE. Modulation of brain serotonin by benzyl butyl phthalate in Fundulus heteroclitus (mummichog). Ecotoxicology 2019; 28:1038-1045. [PMID: 31489593 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-019-02101-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals have been known to alter important animal behaviors by modulating serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) and dopamine. F. heteroclitus (mummichog) brain serotonin and dopamine levels were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) following a 28-day exposure regimen involving daily doses of either 0.1 mg l-1 benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) dissolved in acetone or acetone alone (0.1 mg l-1). No differences in mean brain mass or total protein homogenate were induced by exposure to the acetone vehicle or BBP in acetone. The acetone vehicle had no effect on dopamine, serotonin, or tyrosine hydroxylase levels, but acetone did decrease tryptophan hydroxylase levels (p = 0.011). Exposure to BBP in acetone decreased dopamine (p = 0.024), increased serotonin (p < 0.001), reduced tryptophan hydroxylase as compared to the acetone vehicle alone (p < 0.001), and had no significant effect on tyrosine hydroxylase levels. This study is the first to report modulation of F. heteroclitus brain serotonin and its enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase following sub-lethal exposure to BBP in an acetone vehicle. In addition, modulation of brain dopamine in F. heteroclitus, sans simultaneous modulation of tyrosine hydroxylase, was also observed. These findings support the use of F. heteroclitus for assessing sub-lethal BBP exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Deegan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Quinnipiac University, 275 Mt. Carmel Ave., Hamden, CT, 06518, USA
| | - R B Steinhauer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quinnipiac University, 275 Mt. Carmel Ave., Hamden, CT, 06518, USA
| | - Richard S Feinn
- Frank H. Netter, MD - School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, 370 Bassett Road, North Haven, CT, 06473, USA
| | - Matthew C Moeller
- Department of Biological Sciences, Quinnipiac University, 275 Mt. Carmel Ave., Hamden, CT, 06518, USA
| | - H M Pylypiw
- Department of Chemistry and Physical Sciences, Quinnipiac University, 275 Mt. Carmel Ave., Hamden, CT, 06518, USA
| | - M Nabel
- Department of Mathematics & Computer Science, Quinnipiac University, 275 Mt. Carmel Ave., Hamden, CT, 06518, USA
| | - C J Kovelowski
- Frank H. Netter, MD - School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, 370 Bassett Road, North Haven, CT, 06473, USA
| | - L A E Kaplan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Quinnipiac University, 275 Mt. Carmel Ave., Hamden, CT, 06518, USA.
- Frank H. Netter, MD - School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, 370 Bassett Road, North Haven, CT, 06473, USA.
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