Page 90 - 《水产学报》2025年第11期

杨磊，等 水产学报, 2025, 49(11): 119607

Effects of acute alkali stress on the structural and transcriptomic
responses of liver and gill tissues in Scatophagus argus

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YANG Lei , TIAN Changxu 1,2,3 , PENG Youqi , LIU Yong , CHEN Yu , DUAN Cunyu ,
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HAN Tong , SHI Gang 1,2,3 , ZHU Chunhua 1,2,3 , LI Guangli 1,2,3*
1. College of Fisheries, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China;
2. Guangdong Province Famous Fish Reproduction Regulation and Breeding Engineering Technology Research Center of
Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China;
3. Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Disease Control and Healthy Breeding,
Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China

Abstract: To elucidate the response mechanisms of Scatophagus argus to carbonate alkalinity stress, we established a control
group in freshwater and an experimental group exposed to 30 mmol/L carbonate alkalinity. Liver and gill tissues were collected
at 0, 3, 6, and 9 hours post-stress for histological examination and transcriptome sequencing. Histological analysis revealed that
under alkaline stress, liver cells exhibited varying degrees of atrophy and vacuolization, while gill tissues demonstrated damage
characterized by epithelial cell shedding, gill lamella deformation, and larger spacing. Transcriptome sequencing after 9 hours
of alkaline stress identified 270 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in liver tissue, with 190 genes up-regulated and 80 down-
regulated. These DEGs were primarily associated with pathways related to energy synthesis and metabolism, including cyto-
chrome P450-related metabolism, adipocytokine signaling, and steroid metabolism. Notably, the up-regulation of hsp70 and
hbb1, alongside the down-regulation of gpx1, indicated the activation of oxidative stress response mechanisms. In gill tissue,
114 DEGs were identified, with 39 up-regulated and 75 down-regulated, affecting pathways such as cell adhesion, steroid bio-
synthesis, and PPAR signaling. The significant down-regulation of prkca and rab5a suggested a potential compromise in cell
adhesion capacity. In addition, the common differentially expressed genes ck and nlrp12 in liver and gill tissues play a key role
in immune defense. These findings indicate that the adaptation of S. argus to carbonate alkalinity stress involves structural and
functional alterations in liver and gill tissues, along with the regulation of gene expression related to energy balance and
immune response. This study provides critical insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying alkali resistance in S. argus.
Key words: Scatophagus argus; alkali stress; organizational structure; transcriptome sequencing; oxidative stress

Corresponding author: LI Guangli. E-mail: ligl@gdou.edu.cn
Funding projects: Key Research and Development Task of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (2024B02014-3); Zhanji-
ang Science and Technology Plan Project (2022A01046); National Natural Science Foundation of China (32172971); Guang-
dong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2021A1515010430); Undergraduate Innovation Team Project of Guang-
dong Ocean University (CXTD2023003); Modern Seed Industry Park for Whiteleg Shrimp of Guangdong Province (K22221)

https://www.china-fishery.cn 中国水产学会主办 sponsored by China Society of Fisheries
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