Unraveling the impact of PFOA toxicity on Zostera marina using a multi-omics approach: Insights from growth, physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic signatures

Molecular and Physiological Adaptations of Scartelaos histophorus to Air Exposure: Implications for Amphibious Fish Survival

Intertidal habitats present extreme environmental fluctuations, such as periodic air exposure that exposes aquatic organisms to desiccation, oxidative stress, and osmotic imbalance. Scartelaos histophorus, an amphibious fish, demonstrates exceptional physiological resilience in these dynamic ecosystems. This study investigates the physiological, histological, and transcriptomic responses of S. histophorus skin to varying durations of air exposure and subsequent aquatic recovery. Histological analyses indicate transient epidermal remodeling and markers of oxidative stress, reflecting reversible cellular damage. Antioxidant enzyme activities suggest compensatory protective mechanisms against oxidative challenges. Transcriptomic profiling identifies differentially expressed genes significantly enriched in pathways associated with keratinization, hypoxia response, vascular morphogenesis, and extracellular matrix remodeling, highlighting the molecular underpinnings of epidermal plasticity. Notably, the activation of the Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) signaling pathway during air exposure, with with upregulation of c1qtnf7, indicating its involvement in lipid regulation and epidermal adaptation. These findings offer new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptation to air exposure in S. histophorus, enhancing our understanding of amphibious fish survival strategies in fluctuating environments.