Physiological Responses and Histopathological Changes in Narrow-Clawed Crayfish (<i>Pontastacus leptodactylus</i>) Under Acute Thermal Stress
To investigate thermal tolerance, physiological responses, and molecular mechanisms of the narrow-clawed crayfish (<i>Pontastacus leptodactylus</i>) under acute thermal stress, the <i>P. leptodactylus</i> were acutely exposed to 4 different temperature groups—15 °C (control),...
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2025-06-01
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| author | Xia Zhu Bin Li Yuzhen Liu Shujian Chen Yangfang Ye Ronghua Li Weiwei Song Changkao Mu Chunlin Wang Ce Shi |
| author_facet | Xia Zhu Bin Li Yuzhen Liu Shujian Chen Yangfang Ye Ronghua Li Weiwei Song Changkao Mu Chunlin Wang Ce Shi |
| author_sort | Xia Zhu |
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| description | To investigate thermal tolerance, physiological responses, and molecular mechanisms of the narrow-clawed crayfish (<i>Pontastacus leptodactylus</i>) under acute thermal stress, the <i>P. leptodactylus</i> were acutely exposed to 4 different temperature groups—15 °C (control), 20 °C (T20), 25 °C (T25), and 30 °C (T30)—across 6 time points (3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h). Survival rates were recorded at each interval. Subsequent analyses comprised: (1) Hemolymph biochemical parameter determination; (2) hepatopancreatic antioxidant capacity assessment; (3) hepatopancreatic histopathology; and (4) comparative transcriptomics analysis of the hepatopancreas. The results showed that the survival rate in the T30 group significantly declined after 48 h of stress. The histological analysis of the hepatopancreas revealed tissue damage in both the T25 and T30 groups. The T25 group exhibited a notable increase in B-cell density and severe vacuolization, while the T30 group displayed disorganized hepatopancreatic cell arrangement, marked necrosis, and structural phenotypes in hepatopancreatic tubules, including lumen expansion and the loss of the star-shaped lumen structure. Biochemical analyses indicated pronounced declines in energy metabolism markers under elevated temperatures. Furthermore, the T30 group exhibited elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), alongside diminished total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). Similarly, the T25 group displayed increased MDA and CAT levels but decreased T-AOC. Comparative transcriptomic analysis demonstrated that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the control vs. T25 group were predominantly enriched in metabolic pathways, whereas DEGs identified in control vs. T30 and T25 vs. T30 comparisons showed significant enrichment in energy metabolism and apoptotic processes. Based on these findings, we concluded that acute thermal stress induces mortality in <i>P. leptodactylus</i> through hepatopancreatic structural damage, energy metabolism dysregulation, and excessive ROS accumulation. Notably, <i>P. leptodactylus</i> should be excluded from aquaculture environments exceeding 25 °C. These results enhance understanding of the adaptive mechanisms of <i>P. leptodactylus</i> under acute thermal stress and provide actionable insights to advance its industrial cultivation. |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| spelling | doaj-art-3b847c10102645648699ffdb611d0aa42025-08-20T03:28:29ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-06-011513183710.3390/ani15131837Physiological Responses and Histopathological Changes in Narrow-Clawed Crayfish (<i>Pontastacus leptodactylus</i>) Under Acute Thermal StressXia Zhu0Bin Li1Yuzhen Liu2Shujian Chen3Yangfang Ye4Ronghua Li5Weiwei Song6Changkao Mu7Chunlin Wang8Ce Shi9Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology, Ningbo University, Chinese Ministry of Education, Ningbo 315211, ChinaCollege of Veterinary Medicine, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi 830052, ChinaKey Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology, Ningbo University, Chinese Ministry of Education, Ningbo 315211, ChinaKey Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology, Ningbo University, Chinese Ministry of Education, Ningbo 315211, ChinaKey Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology, Ningbo University, Chinese Ministry of Education, Ningbo 315211, ChinaKey Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology, Ningbo University, Chinese Ministry of Education, Ningbo 315211, ChinaKey Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology, Ningbo University, Chinese Ministry of Education, Ningbo 315211, ChinaKey Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology, Ningbo University, Chinese Ministry of Education, Ningbo 315211, ChinaKey Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology, Ningbo University, Chinese Ministry of Education, Ningbo 315211, ChinaKey Laboratory of Aquacultural Biotechnology, Ningbo University, Chinese Ministry of Education, Ningbo 315211, ChinaTo investigate thermal tolerance, physiological responses, and molecular mechanisms of the narrow-clawed crayfish (<i>Pontastacus leptodactylus</i>) under acute thermal stress, the <i>P. leptodactylus</i> were acutely exposed to 4 different temperature groups—15 °C (control), 20 °C (T20), 25 °C (T25), and 30 °C (T30)—across 6 time points (3 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h). Survival rates were recorded at each interval. Subsequent analyses comprised: (1) Hemolymph biochemical parameter determination; (2) hepatopancreatic antioxidant capacity assessment; (3) hepatopancreatic histopathology; and (4) comparative transcriptomics analysis of the hepatopancreas. The results showed that the survival rate in the T30 group significantly declined after 48 h of stress. The histological analysis of the hepatopancreas revealed tissue damage in both the T25 and T30 groups. The T25 group exhibited a notable increase in B-cell density and severe vacuolization, while the T30 group displayed disorganized hepatopancreatic cell arrangement, marked necrosis, and structural phenotypes in hepatopancreatic tubules, including lumen expansion and the loss of the star-shaped lumen structure. Biochemical analyses indicated pronounced declines in energy metabolism markers under elevated temperatures. Furthermore, the T30 group exhibited elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), alongside diminished total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC). Similarly, the T25 group displayed increased MDA and CAT levels but decreased T-AOC. Comparative transcriptomic analysis demonstrated that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the control vs. T25 group were predominantly enriched in metabolic pathways, whereas DEGs identified in control vs. T30 and T25 vs. T30 comparisons showed significant enrichment in energy metabolism and apoptotic processes. Based on these findings, we concluded that acute thermal stress induces mortality in <i>P. leptodactylus</i> through hepatopancreatic structural damage, energy metabolism dysregulation, and excessive ROS accumulation. Notably, <i>P. leptodactylus</i> should be excluded from aquaculture environments exceeding 25 °C. These results enhance understanding of the adaptive mechanisms of <i>P. leptodactylus</i> under acute thermal stress and provide actionable insights to advance its industrial cultivation.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1837thermal stressenergy metabolismnarrow-clawed crayfishRNA-seq |
| spellingShingle | Xia Zhu Bin Li Yuzhen Liu Shujian Chen Yangfang Ye Ronghua Li Weiwei Song Changkao Mu Chunlin Wang Ce Shi Physiological Responses and Histopathological Changes in Narrow-Clawed Crayfish (<i>Pontastacus leptodactylus</i>) Under Acute Thermal Stress Animals thermal stress energy metabolism narrow-clawed crayfish RNA-seq |
| title | Physiological Responses and Histopathological Changes in Narrow-Clawed Crayfish (<i>Pontastacus leptodactylus</i>) Under Acute Thermal Stress |
| title_full | Physiological Responses and Histopathological Changes in Narrow-Clawed Crayfish (<i>Pontastacus leptodactylus</i>) Under Acute Thermal Stress |
| title_fullStr | Physiological Responses and Histopathological Changes in Narrow-Clawed Crayfish (<i>Pontastacus leptodactylus</i>) Under Acute Thermal Stress |
| title_full_unstemmed | Physiological Responses and Histopathological Changes in Narrow-Clawed Crayfish (<i>Pontastacus leptodactylus</i>) Under Acute Thermal Stress |
| title_short | Physiological Responses and Histopathological Changes in Narrow-Clawed Crayfish (<i>Pontastacus leptodactylus</i>) Under Acute Thermal Stress |
| title_sort | physiological responses and histopathological changes in narrow clawed crayfish i pontastacus leptodactylus i under acute thermal stress |
| topic | thermal stress energy metabolism narrow-clawed crayfish RNA-seq |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/13/1837 |
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