Abstract
Scaleless carp (Gymnocypris przewalskii) are well adapted to low oxygen environment, but their specific adaptation mechanism to hypoxic condition remains unclear. The gill is an important respiratory organ that plays a crucial role in regulating hypoxic stress. Here, we established fish hypoxic stress model, as well as investigated oxidative stress, apoptotic responses, and relative enzyme activities in the gills of scaleless carp after exposure to various levels of hypoxic stress. The results demonstrated that gill lamellar height and basal length increased significantly under severe hypoxic stress, and interval lengths between lamellae increased significantly under hypoxic stress. Furthermore, lamellar epithelial cells underwent apoptosis, cytoplasmic contraction, and mitochondrial expansion, and the number of apoptotic cells increased significantly after exposure to severe hypoxic stress for 24 h. Subsequently, Bcl-2 and Caspase 3 mRNA levels, as well as Bcl-2/Bax expression ratio were significantly increased after exposure to severe hypoxic stress for 24 h, indicating upregulation of anti-apoptotic processes. Moreover, malondialdehyde and hydrogen peroxide levels were significantly increased after exposure to hypoxic stress for 24 h. Superoxide dismutase activity increased significantly after exposure to severe hypoxia for 8 h and then decreased, while glutathione peroxidase activity and total antioxidant capacity increased significantly under hypoxic stress. Taken together, the results indicated that scaleless carp gills respond to acute hypoxic conditions by undergoing lamellar morphology remodeling, enhanced apoptosis, and increased antioxidant enzymatic activity. The study findings provided new insight into the adaptation mechanisms of scaleless carp in response to hypoxic challenge.
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This work was supported by Natural Science Foundation of Qinghai Science & Technology Department in China [2018-ZJ-729].
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YuTian Zhao and ShengYun Fu performed experiments and analyzed the data. FuJu Chen and XiaoDong Ling wrote the manuscript.
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This study conformed to the Guidelines for the Care and Use of Experimental Animals established by the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China (Approved number: 2006-398). The research protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethical Committee of Qinghai University. The study and all methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations and in compliance with the ARRIVE guidelines (https://arriveguidelines.org/).
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Chen, F., Ling, X., Zhao, Y. et al. Hypoxia-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in gills of scaleless carp (Gymnocypris przewalskii). Fish Physiol Biochem 48, 911–924 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-022-01091-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-022-01091-3