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Behavioral transcriptomic effects of triploidy and probiotic therapy (Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Lactococcus mixture) on juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha).

  • 2024-05-30
  • Genes, brain, and behavior 23(3)
    • Chelsea E Frank
    • Javad Sadeghi
    • Daniel D Heath
    • Christina A D Semeniuk

Study Design

Type
Clinical Trial
Sample size
n = 360
Population
Juveniles from four treatment groups (diploid-regular feed, diploid-probiotic feed, triploid-regular feed, and triploid-probiotic feed; n = 360) of hatchery-reared Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha)
Methods
Examined fish gut bacterial community composition using 16S metabarcoding; juveniles underwent behavioral assays to test activity, exploration, neophobia, predator evasion, aggression/sociality, behavioral sensitivity, and flexibility; transcriptional profiles for genes associated with neural functions and biomarkers for stress response and development were examined across treatments
  • Animal Study
Aquaculturists use polyploid fish to maximize production albeit with some unintended consequences including compromised behaviors and physiological function. Given benefits of probiotic therapies (e.g., improved immune response, growth, and metabolism), we explored probiotic supplementation (mixture of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, and Lactococcus), to overcome drawbacks. We first examined fish gut bacterial community composition using 16S metabarcoding (via principal coordinate analyses and PERMANOVA) and determined probiotics significantly impacted gut bacteria composition (p = 0.001). Secondly, we examined how a genomic disruptor (triploidy) and diet supplements (probiotics) impact gene transcription and behavioral profiles of hatchery-reared Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Juveniles from four treatment groups (diploid-regular feed, diploid-probiotic feed, triploid-regular feed, and triploid-probiotic feed; n = 360) underwent behavioral assays to test activity, exploration, neophobia, predator evasion, aggression/sociality, behavioral sensitivity, and flexibility. In these fish, transcriptional profiles for genes associated with neural functions (neurogenesis/synaptic plasticity) and biomarkers for stress response and development (growth/appetite) were (i) examined across treatments and (ii) used to describe behavioral phenotypes via principal component analyses and general linear mixed models. Triploids exhibited a more active behavioral profile (p = 0.002), and those on a regular diet had greater Neuropeptide Y transcription (p = 0.02). A growth gene (early growth response protein 1, p = 0.02) and long-term neural development genes (neurogenic differentiation factor, p = 0.003 and synaptysomal-associated protein 25-a, p = 0.005) impacted activity and reactionary profiles, respectively. Overall, our probiotic treatment did not compensate for triploidy. Our research highlights novel applications of behavioral transcriptomics for identifying candidate genes and dynamic, mechanistic associations with complex behavioral repertoires.

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