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.大气中人为源二氧化碳（anthropogenic CO2）的持续增加引发海洋酸化，已有研究表明该现象会影响部分鱼类的脑功能。在成体阶段，细胞增殖对于鱼类脑部生长以及响应外界刺激（如环境变化）的适应性调控至关重要。本研究首次针对暴露于高浓度二氧化碳环境中的三刺棘鱼（Gasterosteus aculeatus）、肉桂海葵鱼（Amphiprion melanopus）和棘颊雀鲷（Acanthochromis polyacanthus）脑部中调控神经发生与神经可塑性的基因开展表达分析。与对照组相比，高二氧化碳暴露组的三刺棘鱼脑部神经分化因子（Neurogenic differentiation factor, NeuroD）与双皮质素（doublecortin, DCX）的mRNA表达水平显著上调，而另外两个物种未检测到相关表达变化。在所有三个受试物种中，高二氧化碳暴露组的增殖细胞核抗原（proliferating cell nuclear antigen, PCNA）与脑源性神经营养因子（brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF）的mRNA表达水平与对照组相比无显著差异。上述结果表明，参与神经发生过程的基因在响应环境二氧化碳浓度升高时存在物种特异性的调控模式。高二氧化碳暴露组的三刺棘鱼脑部NeuroD与DCX的mRNA转录本表达水平升高，结合肉桂海葵鱼和棘颊雀鲷的mRNA水平未受影响的结果，显示不同鱼类在响应预测的未来大气二氧化碳浓度环境时，其应对胁迫的机制存在显著差异。