Developmental gene expression analysis of the impacts of crude oil toxicity on nitrogenous waste excretion in mahi-mahi (Coryphaena hippurus) early life stages

Recent studies by our lab have shown that oil exposure increases oxygen consumption of developing mahi-mahi larvae and that this increased metabolic demand is likely fueled by increased protein catabolism, as evidenced by increased nitrogenous waste excretion. Additionally, a recent RNA-seq study by our lab and others revealed a number of oil-responsive genes in early life stage mahi-mahi associated with nitrogenous waste excretion. Similar to other teleosts, mahi-mahi avoid the toxic build-up of ammonia by being ureotelic during the embryonic stage and gradually switch to being ammoniotelic around hatch. Thus, any disruption in the timing of these processes could indicate significant physiological impacts with implications for survival. In this dataset, the mRNA expression changes for different transporters (Rhag, Rhbg, Rhcg1, Rhcg2, Nhe2, Nhe3, EF1a, UT) are provided for mahi embryos and larvae at different time points. Additionally, results from in situ hybridization experiments to localize the tissue-specific expression of these genes are provided.