Data from: Responses of neurogenesis and neuroplasticity related genes to elevated CO2 levels in the brain of three teleost species

The continuous increase of anthropogenic CO2 in the atmosphere resulting in ocean acidification has been reported to affect brain function in some fishes. During adulthood, cell proliferation is fundamental for fish brain growth and for it to adapt in response to external stimuli, such as environmental changes. Here we report the first expression study of genes regulating neurogenesis and neuroplasticity in brains of three-spined stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus), cinnamon anemonefish (Amphiprion melanopus) and spiny damselfish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus) exposed to elevated CO2. The mRNA expression levels of the neurogenic differentiation factor (NeuroD) and doublecortin (DCX) were upregulated in three-spined stickleback exposed to high-CO2 compared with controls, while no changes were detected in the other species. The mRNA expression levels of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) remained unaffected in the high-CO2 exposed groups compared to the control in all three species. These results indicate a species-specific regulation of genes involved in neurogenesis in response to elevated ambient CO2 levels. The higher expression of NeuroD and DCX mRNA transcripts in the brain of high-CO2–exposed three-spined stickleback, together with the lack of effects on mRNA levels in cinnamon anemonefish and spiny damselfish, indicate differences in coping mechanisms among fish in response to the predicted-future CO2 level.据报道，大气中人为源二氧化碳(CO₂)持续增加引发的海洋酸化，会对部分鱼类的大脑功能造成影响。在成年阶段，细胞增殖是鱼类大脑生长以及响应环境变化等外部刺激以实现适应性调控的核心基础。本研究首次针对暴露于高浓度二氧化碳(CO₂)环境中的三刺棘鱼（Gasterosteus aculeatus）、肉桂海葵鱼（Amphiprion melanopus）以及多棘雀鲷（Acanthochromis polyacanthus）的大脑中调控神经发生与神经可塑性的基因表达展开研究。与对照组相比，暴露于高CO₂环境的三刺棘鱼体内，神经分化因子(NeuroD)与双皮质素(DCX)的信使RNA(mRNA)表达水平显著上调，其余两种鱼类未检测到此类表达变化。增殖细胞核抗原(PCNA)及脑源性神经营养因子(BDNF)的信使RNA(mRNA)表达水平，在三种鱼类的高CO₂暴露组与对照组间均无显著差异。上述结果表明，参与神经发生的基因对环境CO₂浓度升高的响应调控存在物种特异性。高CO₂暴露组三刺棘鱼大脑中NeuroD与DCX的mRNA转录本表达量上调，结合肉桂海葵鱼与多棘雀鲷的mRNA水平未受影响的实验结果，表明不同鱼类应对未来预估CO₂浓度环境的适应机制存在显著差异。