Response of Yesso scallop Patinopecten yessoensis to acute temperature challenge: physiological and biochemical parameters

Abstract

Water temperature is generally considered to be a major factor affecting the physiological and biochemical activities of marine bivalves. Here, the physiological and biochemical responses of Yesso scallop, Patinopecten yessoensis, to acute water temperature changes in summer were studied. Scallops were transferred directly to a lower temperature (Tdec treatment) (from 23°C to 15°C) or to a higher temperature (Tdec treatment) (from 15°C to 23°C) for 72 h, respectively. Results showed that the oxygen consumption and ammonia-N excretion rates of P. yessoensis decreased significantly in the Tdec treatment but increased dramatically at 6 h in the Tdec treatment (P <0.05). In the T dec treatment, hepatopancreas antioxidant enzyme activities, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, increased substantially within 72 h (P <0.05). However, a significant decrease in CAT activity was found at 12 h in the Tdec treatment (P <0.01). A significant enhancement of acid phosphatase (ACP) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content was detected when scallops were acutely exposed to a temperature of 15°C. The levels of Cu/Zn-SOD gene expression in their gills up-regulated significantly in response to acute temperature changes (P <0.01). These data suggest that acute temperature change affects physiological and biochemical functions, and improve our knowledge of P. yessoensis under conditions of thermal stress.