Ontogeny of the stomach in yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco): detection and quantifictation of pepsinogen and H⁺/K⁺‐ATPase gene expression

Abstract

Yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) is an important commercial species with high aquaculture potential in China. To better understand the process of digestive functioning of gastric gland development during the larval from 1 dph (day post-hatching) to 30 dph, real-time PCR was used to detect and quantify the pepsinogen and H(+) /K(+) -ATPase gene expression in P. fulvidraco. These data were also compared with the adult situation. The results showed that the expression of pepsinogen and H(+) /K(+) -ATPase genes in P. fulvidraco larvae both started at 1 dph, though the expression level was very low until 3 dph. The quantification of pepsinogen gene expression increased significantly from 4 to 8 dph, increased fluctuantly from 8 to 23 dph and rose sharply from 23 to 30 dph. In comparison with adult fish, there were no significant differences with larvae at 5 and 23 dph. However, data of 10 and 30 dph larvae were obviously higher than those of adult group. H(+) /K(+) -ATPase gene expression increased linearly from 1 to 30 dph. However, it was significantly lower than that of adult. The results show that P. fulvidraco larvae have an earlier functional stomach, though the function of the stomach is still not perfect. There is a gradual acidification environment within the stomach during the P. fulvidraco larvae development. Based on these results, we suggest that the weaning time for P. fulvidraco larvae would be much better after 23 dph.

Isolation, identification, and gene expression analysis of the main digestive enzymes during ontogeny of the Neotropical catfish Pseudoplatystoma punctifer (Castelnau, 1855)

“…These results coincide with those we observed at enzymatic activity levels in this species (Castro-Ruiz et al, 2019). The level of pga expression generally increases with development and larval growth, which is associated with the increasing number of gastric glands in the stomach (Darias et al, 2005;Darias et al, 2007c;Galaviz et al, 2012;Gao et al, 2013;Mir et al, 2018;Moguel-Hernández et al, 2016;Murray et al, 2006), leading to full acidification capacity and hence a more efficient protein digestion that can be attained several weeks after the onset of acidic digestion (Darias et al, 2005;Hoehne-Reitan et al, 2001;Yúfera et al, 2004). In P. punctifer, the exponential increase of pga expression after 13 dpf (14 mm TL) is in accordance with the greater development both in number and size of the gastric glands of the stomach observed histologically (Gisbert et al, 2014).…”

Functional modifications associated with gastrointestinal tract organogenesis during metamorphosis in Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus)

“…mouse: [49]). In Atlantic halibut the expression of pepsinogen A2 and both gastric proton pump subunits were also correlated, and similar observations have been made during larval development of the winter flounder, red porgy ( Pagrus pagrus ) and yellow catfish ( Pelteobagrus fulvidraco ), [19-21,50,51]. The synchronous expression of these genes was proposed to be a physiological strategy to promote quick conversion of pepsinogen into pepsin [52].…”

Acidic Digestion in a Teleost: Postprandial and Circadian Pattern of Gastric pH, Pepsin Activity, and Pepsinogen and Proton Pump mRNAs Expression

“…The gene expression of both pepsinogen and proton pump expression has been only analysed in postlarvae of P. americanus [36], P. pagrus [5] and Pelteobagrus fulvidraco [58]. In juveniles and adults, time curse or postprandial experimental studies at molecular level are practically absent.…”

“…Changes in pepsinogen mRNA expression in fish has been analyzed mainly in the late larval period during the transition to juvenile in Paralichtys olivaceus [53] , Hippoglossus hippoglossus [54] ; Melanogrammus aeglefinus , Gadus morhua [55] , Oreochromis mossambicus [56] and Epinephelus coioides [57] . The gene expression of both pepsinogen and proton pump expression has been only analysed in postlarvae of P. americanus [36] , P. pagrus [5] and Pelteobagrus fulvidraco [58] . In juveniles and adults, time curse or postprandial experimental studies at molecular level are practically absent.…”