Liver RNA-seq of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) submitted to different aquaculture challenges
Fish in aquaculture farms frequently face unfavarouble husbandry conditions and other unpredictable situations, which are sometimes part of routine procedures. However, managing stress originated from these situations is crucial to ensure the sustainability of the production. When fish is exposed to prolonged stress, and overload of the physiological systems can occur and the fish may no longer be able to adapt and restore homeostasis, and this can impair the animal performance, such as growth and immunity, and consequently fish welfare. In this study the genes and gene families responsible for the molecular stress response to different challenges in gilthead seabream was assessed. Gilthead seabream adults were exposed to overcrowding, net-handling and hypoxia, in separate trials, each against a control group. Overcrowding and net-handling trials lasted for a month and half (chronic stress) and hypoxia for 48h (acute stress). The liver was the chosen organ for this transcriptomics analysis as this plays a crucial role in stress adaptation. The characterization of stress adaptation mechanisms provides valuable knowledge for the future selective breeding of more resilient commercial species that can thrive under changing conditions and adapt well to life in captivity, while ensuring high welfare standards.