title: Influence of continuous light treatment on expression of stress biomarkers in Atlantic cod.
abstract: Continuous light treatment during early juvenile stages in Gadus morhua is a common farming management practice but the effects of these unnatural light conditions on fish stress have received scant attention. In the present study we investigated how continuous illumination affects transcription levels of key stress-related and antimicrobial peptide genes in juvenile Atlantic cod. Gene expression quantification by real-time PCR revealed higher levels of transcripts coding for antioxidant enzymes, namely superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione reductase in liver of fish reared under continuous illumination, concomitantly with a 43% decrease in glutathione content. Transcription of antimicrobial peptides such as piscidins, hepcidin and cathelicidin was also affected by constant illumination. Overall, the significant changes in liver transcript levels of these biomarkers in response to continuous light may be an adaptation to light stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy. Electronic address: agiannetto@unime.it.
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Giannetto
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Bioscience and Aquaculture, University of Nordland, 8049 Bodø, Norway.
authors.forename: Jorge M O
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Bioscience and Aquaculture, University of Nordland, 8049 Bodø, Norway.
authors.forename: Kazue
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagasawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mauceri
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maisano
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Domenico
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cappello
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oliva
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fasulo
mesh_terms: D000221:Adaptation, Ocular; D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048389:Gadus morhua / Q000276:immunology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005980:Glutathione Reductase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D015415:Biomarkers; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005980:Glutathione Reductase
keywords: Antimicrobial peptides; Atlantic cod; Gene expression; Photoperiod; Stress genes