Effects of different flow velocities on behavior and TRPA1 expression in the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicas

Abstract

A water flow simulation device capable of adjusting flow velocity was designed in flow velocity range of 0-30 cm/s, with which an indoor experiment was conducted to simulate the movement and adhesive behaviors of different-sized Apostichopus japonicus under different flow velocities. Observation showed that, in slow flow (~5 cm/s), A. japonicus moved more distance than in still water, and hardly moved in the riptide (~30 cm/s); and the adhesive capacity of A. japonicus was related to the flow velocity and attachment time. A. japonicus were able to attach to the bottom after any attachment time in the slow flow, after 10 s in the medium flow (~15 cm/s), and after 60 s in the riptide (~30 cm/s). In addition, larger A. japonicus were stronger with adhesive ability than smaller ones. The transcriptome data showed that the expression of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily A, member 1 (TRPA1) in the tube feet was increased significantly in a flowing water, but those in the tentacles and tube feet were not significantly changed. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization results showed that TRPA1 was expressed around the watervascular of tentacles, tube feet, body wall, and spines. Therefore, tube feet were important for sea cucumbers to keep themselves stable in relatively swift flow with adhesion ability.