Microcystin-LR-induced changes of hepatopancreatic transcriptome, intestinal microbiota, and histopathology of freshwater crayfish (Procambarus clarkii)

Sci Total Environ. 2020 Apr 1:711:134549. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134549. Epub 2019 Nov 20.

Abstract

As a hepatotoxin, microcystin-LR (MC-LR) poses a great threat to aquatic organisms. In this research, the hepatopancreatic transcriptome, intestinal microbiota, and histopathology of Procambarus clarkii (P. clarkii) in response to acute MC-LR exposure were studied. RNA-seq analysis of hepatopancreas identified 372 and 781 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after treatment with 10 and 40 μg/L MC-LR, respectively. Among the DEGs, 23 genes were immune-related and 21 genes were redox-related. GO functional enrichment analysis revealed that MC-LR could impact nuclear-transcribed mRNA catabolic process, cobalamin- and heme-related processes, and sirohydrochlorin cobaltochelatase activity of P. clarkii. In addition, the only significantly enriched KEGG pathway induced by MC-LR was galactose metabolism pathway. Meanwhile, sequencing of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene demonstrated that MC-LR decreased bacterial richness and diversity, and altered the intestinal microbiota composition. At the phylum level, after 96 h, the abundance of Verrucomicrobia decreased after treatment with 10 and 40 μg/L MC-LR, while Firmicutes increased in the 40 μg/L MC-LR-treated group. At the genus level, the abundances of 15 genera were significantly altered after exposure to MC-LR. Our research demonstrated that MC-LR exposure caused histological alterations such as structural damage of hepatopancreas and intestines. This research provides an insight into the mechanisms associated with MC-LR toxicity in aquatic crustaceans.

Keywords: Hepatopancreatic transcriptome; Histopathology; Intestinal microbiota; Microcystin-LR; Procambarus clarkii.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Astacoidea*
  • Fresh Water
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome*
  • Marine Toxins
  • Microcystins
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Transcriptome*

Substances

  • Marine Toxins
  • Microcystins
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • cyanoginosin LR