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Combined effects of hypoxia and ammonia-N exposure on the immune response, oxidative stress, tissue injury and apoptosis of  hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀×E. lanceolatus♂)

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Abstract

In order to investigate the simultaneous exposure to hypoxia and ammonia-N on oxidative stress, immune response, and apoptosis of the hybrid grouper, 120 healthy groupers were selected for hypoxia and/or ammonia-N exposure experiment. The fish were divided into four experimental groups: hypoxia and ammonia-N group, hypoxia group, ammonia-N group, and control group. The results demonstrated that ammonia-N and hypoxia exposures induced the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities increased first and then decreased, and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulated. Additionally, antioxidant genes (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px, HSP70, and HSP90), apoptosis genes (p53, bax, caspase 3, caspase 8, and caspase 9), and inflammatory genes (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8) were upregulated by hypoxia and ammonia-N exposure. Severe inflammatory features were noticed in fish under hypoxia and ammonia-N co-exposure and speculating that the p53-bax pathway may induce apoptosis in hybrid groupers. Furthermore, hybrid grouper exposed to hypoxia or ammonia-N revealed some abnormalities in liver histology, with combined exposure resulting in the most severe liver tissue lesions. In summary, the hypoxia and ammonia-N co-exposure induced oxidative stress, accelerating the cell damage and activated inflammation and apoptosis.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author, Jing Xie, upon reasonable request.

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Funding

This research was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFD2100100), the earmarked fund for CARS-47, and Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Project to Enhance the Capabilities of the Platform (20DZ2292200).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Food Science and Technology, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China

    Jie Cao, Jun Mei & Jing Xie

  2. National Experimental Teaching Demonstration Center for Food Science and Engineering, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai, 201306, China

    Jun Mei & Jing Xie

  3. Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Aquatic Product Processing and Preservation, Shanghai, 201306, China

    Jun Mei & Jing Xie

  4. Key Laboratory of Aquatic Products High-Quality Utilization, Storage and Transportation (Co-Construction By Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai, 201306, China

    Jun Mei & Jing Xie

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  1. Jie Cao
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  2. Jun Mei
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Conceptualization, data curation, and writing—original draft were performed by JC. Writing—review and editing was performed by JM. Funding acquisition, resources, and supervision were performed by JX.

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Correspondence to Jing Xie.

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Cao, J., Mei, J. & Xie, J. Combined effects of hypoxia and ammonia-N exposure on the immune response, oxidative stress, tissue injury and apoptosis of  hybrid grouper (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀×E. lanceolatus♂). Environ Sci Pollut Res 31, 845–856 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-31100-8

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