Comparative transcriptomic analysis of the brain-liver Axis reveals molecular mechanisms underlying acute cold stress response in Gynogenetic Mrigal carp

Abstract

In this study, we produced a population of gynogenetic mrigal carp (Cirrhinus mrigala, GMCJ) through artificial gynogenesis using UV-inactivated white crucian carp spermatozoa. The GMCJ exhibited a faster growth rate and strong resistance to low temperatures, surviving natural winter conditions with temperatures below 10 °C. To gain a deeper insight into GMCJ's molecular response to acute cold stress (a decrease in water temperature from 26 °C to 14 °C within 1 h at a rate of 0.2 °C/min), we conducted a comparative analysis of the histology and transcriptomics of the brain-liver axis. Transmission electron microscopy of the heart tissues revealed that acute cold stress result in widened myofilament spacing, along with enlarged, deformed mitochondria that developed vacuoles and ruptured. We identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the brain (2463 upregulated and 3288 downregulated genes) and liver (1210 upregulated and 1224 downregulated genes). Analysis of the DEGs' correlations indicated that major pathways involved in immunity, disease, metabolism, and growth were active and interconnected. KEGG functional analysis showed that the most enriched pathways in the brain-liver axis involved the regulation of the glucagon pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and herpes simplex infection. Numerous genes associated with the nervous-endocrine system were activated, suggesting a coordinated response of the brain-liver axis to acute stress. These findings enhance our understanding of how farmed, particularly gynogenetic fish respond to acute cold stress.