Fish Physiology and Biochemistry最新文献

{"title":"The effect of long-term exposure to single and mixed mineral ions related to water hardness on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus).","authors":"Eman I Hassanen, Wafaa A Mohamed, Hanan S Khalefa, Ghada E Ali, Mahmoud A Mahmoud","doi":"10.1007/s10695-025-01532-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10695-025-01532-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The current study aimed to evaluate the harmful effects of single and mixed minerals involved in water hardness on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Seventy-five fish were randomly assigned to five groups (n = 15), each consisting of three replicates (n = 5), and subjected to the following treatments for two months: standard fishery water, Ca (186 mg/L CaCl₂), Mg (40 mg/L MgCl₂), Na (25 g/L NaHCO₃), a mixture of MgCl₂, CaCl₂, and NaHCO₃ at the same protocol dosing to adjust water hardness at 300 mg/L. The results reported that fish exposed to Ca, Na, and Mix salts showed a significant decline in growth performance, serum antioxidant levels, and protein profile along with a significant rise in the enzymatic activity of ALT, AST, urea, creatinine, and MDA levels (P ≤ 0.05). Exposure of fish to either single or mixed ions caused histopathological changes in the gills, liver, kidney, spleen, and brain. However, the nature, distribution, and the degree of severity of histopathological lesions vary in the experimental groups. The group exposed to mixed salts had the highest scores in all the pathological parameters, whereas the Mg group recorded the lowest scores. Moreover, the Ca group exhibited the highest scores in the liver and kidney, while the Na group showed the highest scores in the gills, spleen, and kidney.</p>","PeriodicalId":12274,"journal":{"name":"Fish Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"51 4","pages":"122"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12271268/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144658840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physiology and morphology of clonal Atlantic salmon-influence of incubation temperature, ploidy, and zygosity.","authors":"Malthe Hvas, Fletcher Warren-Myers, Ida B Johansen, Per Gunnar Fjelldal, Tom Johnny Hansen","doi":"10.1007/s10695-025-01533-8","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10695-025-01533-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Isogenic (clonal) fish lines are useful experimental models to study effects of environment versus genetics on phenotypic traits, as they can be maintained for generations without change, providing advantages over outbred groups prone to generational change and higher variation. Here we performed experiments on isogenic Atlantic salmon groups that were either heterozygous diploid, homozygous diploid, triploid, or heterozygous diploid incubated at 4 °C instead of 8 °C. We measured metabolic rates, stress response, and hypoxia tolerance to assess whole-animal performance traits. Then we measured the morphology of hearts and otoliths since both are known to be influenced by environmental history. Isogenic, ploidy, and zygosity statuses were confirmed from microsatellite markers. Embryonic development is affected by temperature, hence the 4 °C incubation group was tested 9 months later when it had reached an equivalent size as the other groups. Curiously, a bimodal size distribution emerged in this group. Physiological traits were similar between groups apart from higher standard metabolic rates in the 4 °C incubated fish. Each group had distinct heart morphologies where fish with a slower growth history resembled wild-phenotypes while homozygous fish had the most deviating hearts. Proportions of vaterite deposition in otoliths showed high individual variation and did not differ between groups. Lower coefficients of variation within groups were found when compared to outbred fish, but this was not consistent for all traits assessed. As such, substantial phenotypic variation in physiology and morphology was still observed in isogenic Atlantic salmon, which can be ascribed to random environmental factors.</p>","PeriodicalId":12274,"journal":{"name":"Fish Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"51 4","pages":"121"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12270969/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144658838","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pumpkin peel (Cucurbita pepo)-fortified diet mitigates trace element mixture (mercury and zinc)-induced hepato-renal dysfunction, immunotoxicity, splenic gene disruption, and histopathological alterations in Oreochromis niloticus.","authors":"Rowida E Ibrahim, Afaf N Abdel Rahman, Mohammed S Sobh, Abdallah Tageldein Mansour, Ahmed S Alsaqufi, Yousef Alkhamis, Hesham A Hassanien, Ahmed Abbas, Tarek Khamis, Abdelrahman S Talab","doi":"10.1007/s10695-025-01534-7","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10695-025-01534-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Waterborne trace element mixture (TEM) negatively affects the physiological performance of fish and health status in recent years. Pumpkin peels (Cucurbita pepo, CPP; 12 g/kg diet) as a target of polyphenol substances was evaluated against TEM [mercury (Hg) and zinc (Zn)] exposure in Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) in this investigation. Comprehensive biochemical, molecular, and histological assays were evaluated. A total of 160 fish (28.50 ± 1.33 g) were assigned into four groups for 60 days. The control and CPP groups were fed basal and CPP diets without trace element exposure, respectively. The TEM and CPP + TEM groups were exposed to TEM (Hg at 0.05 mg/L and Zn at 7.00 mg/L) and given the basal and CPP diets, respectively. Fish mortality (27.50%) and hepato-renal variables increased significantly in TEM fish. The TEM group experienced lower serum complement 3 activity, lysozyme activity, and nitric oxide levels. Furthermore, downregulation of immune genes (interleukin-10, heme oxygenase-1, and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1) expression and upregulation of tumor necrosis factor-α gene expression were observed in the TEM group. Several pathological lesions were observed in the liver, kidney, and splenic tissues of the TEM fish. Fortification with CPP in the diet decreased the mortality rate and modulated hepato-renal markers in the TEM group. The humoral and splenic immune responses of the TEM fish and histological architecture were enhanced with the CPP-supplemented diet. Overall, the dietary intervention of CPP (12 g/kg diet) is recommended to overcome TEM negative effects on the physio-biochemical and immunological responses of Nile tilapia.</p>","PeriodicalId":12274,"journal":{"name":"Fish Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"51 4","pages":"120"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144642190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative evaluation of antioxidant status, stress, and hepatorenal biomarkers in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) cultured in In-Pond raceway and traditional aquaculture systems.","authors":"Salah M Aly, Osama A Abd Allah, Noha I ElBanna, Nahla S Abdel-Naeim, Noha S Abdelnaeim, Mohamed Fathi","doi":"10.1007/s10695-025-01531-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10695-025-01531-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The in-pond raceway system (IPRS), is an intensive aquaculture technology that has gained attention in recent years. This study evaluated the comparative effects of In-Pond Raceway Systems (IPRS) and traditional aquaculture systems on oxidative status, stress indices, and biomarkers of liver and kidney function, as well as proteinogram in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) over 2, 4, and 6 months. The results revealed that serum total antioxidative capacity (TAC) level were significantly lower in the IPRS group compared to the traditional system at all time points (p < 0.01 at 2 months, p < 0.001 at 4 and 6 months), indicating oxidative stress in the IPRS. Stress markers such as cortisol and glucose levels were significantly elevated in the IPRS group at 4 and 6 months (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively), while triglycerides and cholesterol levels were consistently higher in the IPRS group across all time points (p < 0.001 for triglycerides, p < 0.001 at 2 months and p < 0.01 at 4 and 6 months for cholesterol). Liver function biomarkers, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), showed no significant differences between the two systems, except for a transient increase in ALT at 4 months in the IPRS group (p < 0.05). These findings underscore the need for optimized IPRS management strategies, particularly adjusted stocking densities, to mitigate physiological stress and ensure sustainable aquaculture. The traditional system demonstrated lower stress impacts, promoting better health and metabolic stability, offering valuable insights for balanced aquaculture practices.</p>","PeriodicalId":12274,"journal":{"name":"Fish Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"51 4","pages":"119"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12227467/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144559612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of homochromatic lights on the physiological responses and morphochromatic traits of scarlet badis, Dario dario (Hamilton, 1822).","authors":"N Siva, Gouranga Biswas, Sweta Pradhan, Arunashri A, Paramita B Sawant","doi":"10.1007/s10695-025-01523-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10695-025-01523-w","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Aquarium fish keeping ranks as the world's second most popular hobby, with a global trade value of 18-20 billion USD annually. Despite its popularity, aquarium lighting is often used for aesthetics without considering its biological effects on fish. This study examined how homochromatic lights affect growth, feed utilization, survival, stress markers, hormone levels, and skin pigmentation in the ornamental fish Dario dario (scarlet badis). Ten male fish (92.79 ± 4.33 mg) were stocked per tank and exposed to six light treatments: red light (RL), blue light (BL), green light (GL), white light (WL), ambient light (AL), and dark (D) for 30 days under a 12:12-h (light:dark) photoperiod. Among treatments, GL significantly enhanced growth, feed efficiency, and survival. Stress biomarkers, namely superoxide dismutase activity, catalase activity, glucose, and cholesterol contents were significantly lower (P < 0.01) under GL, WL, and AL. Fish under GL also had elevated 11-keto testosterone and reduced cortisol levels (P < 0.01), indicating hormonal balance. Visibly, GL-exposed fish displayed more vibrant red bands, confirmed through skin chromaticity analysis and microscopic observation of pigment dispersion in chromatophores. In summary, green light created a favourable environment for D. dario, improving growth, stress reduction, and ornamental value.</p>","PeriodicalId":12274,"journal":{"name":"Fish Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"51 4","pages":"118"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144539667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Melatonin receptor-mediated signaling pathways drive time-dependent physiological recovery from freezing in Perccottus glenii.","authors":"Zhaoyang Ning, Cunrun Ye, Yingqiao Chen, Jiajun Zhou, Xiaoyu Zhao, Ye Huang, Zhitao Liu, Weijie Mu","doi":"10.1007/s10695-025-01516-9","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10695-025-01516-9","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Freeze tolerance in fish has been associated with various physiological adaptations; however, the role of the melatonin (MT) system in fish freeze recovery remains poorly understood. This study investigates the role of MT and its receptors in the recovery phase from hibernation in the fish species Perccottus glenii. The results showed that during the recovery phase, MT content in untreated P. glenii increased gradually, with significantly higher levels at 12 h than at 4 h. MT injection facilitated the recovery of P. glenii, as evidenced by significant differences in hibernation recovery behaviors between injected and non-injected fish. In the liver during recovery, the mRNA levels of AANAT and HIOMT, key enzymes for MT secretion, were higher at 12 h. The expressions of MT receptors MTNR1A, MTNR1B, and MTNR1C were also upregulated at 12 h. In the liver, the expressions of PKC and ERK increased significantly at 12 h, suggesting MT role through the receptor pathway. Experiments with primary hepatocytes indicated that the MT receptor promoted PKC expression. In the liver during recovery, ERK and PKC protein levels were higher at 12 h than at 4 h, while PKA was lower. Various expression changes were observed for PKG, NF-κB, AKT, CAMK1, and CREB in different treatment groups. There were significant differences in the mRNA expressions of PKG, AKT, and CAMK1 between 12 and 4 h recovery cells and in CREB levels among the control, 4 h, and 12 h groups. The findings suggest that MT is involved in the hibernation recovery process, and its receptor-mediated signaling pathways play important roles, with mechanisms that may be time-dependent. The present study highlights the importance of the MT system in fish freeze recovery and offers a potential target for further research on improving fish survival in cold conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":12274,"journal":{"name":"Fish Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"51 4","pages":"116"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144495437","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Impact of urea nitrogen fertilizer on the physiology, behavior, and histology of juvenile rainbow trout.","authors":"Tomas Makaras, Julija Razumienė, Vidutė Gurevičienė, Gintarė Sauliutė, Nataliia Matviienko, Mykhailo Kozij, Milda Stankevičiūtė","doi":"10.1007/s10695-025-01528-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10695-025-01528-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Excessive use of nitrogen (N) fertilizers can induce metabolic alterations in fish by disrupting nitrogen metabolism and depleting energy reserves needed to maintain nitrogen homeostasis. This study evaluated the acute (96-h LC50) and prolonged (14-day) effects of urea nitrogen fertilizer (5 g L⁻¹ was determined to be the lowest tested concentration with no observable effects) on the physiological, histological, and behavioral responses of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) juveniles. Significant increases in internal urea levels were observed in the blood, gills, and kidneys of exposed fish, alongside decreased glucose levels in blood and renal tissues. The kidneys showed time-dependent changes in urea levels, while circulating glucose levels varied across tissues, with the kidneys exhibiting the most pronounced response. These variations reflect physiological compensatory mechanisms in response to urea-N exposure. A 14-day exposure to urea caused both functional and structural changes in the gills, liver, and kidneys. Increased swimming activity was also noted, persisting throughout the exposure period. Water urea measurements throughout 14-days period were significant but less informative for identifying patterns associated with urea level changes. Further research is needed to investigate the effects of other nitrogen compounds, particularly those associated with eutrophication, and to optimize the use of these biomarkers for indicating metabolic consequences across various biological matrices.</p>","PeriodicalId":12274,"journal":{"name":"Fish Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"51 4","pages":"115"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144495435","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Involvement of galanin in reproduction of male tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus.","authors":"Ashwini Biradar, C B Ganesh","doi":"10.1007/s10695-025-01527-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10695-025-01527-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Galanin(GAL) is recognised for its involvement in various physiological, behavioural, and neuroendocrine functions in vertebrates. Yet, the impact of this peptide on spermatogenesis in fish remains understudied. In this investigation, the administration of 5 µg of GAL receptor agonist (GAL-A) to the tilapia Oreochromis mossambicus did not significantly alter the numbers of different germ cells except for a significant rise in the number of late spermatids compared to the control group. By contrast, treatment with 20 µg of GAL-A caused a significant rise in all germ cell counts and tubule and lumen areas and a significant reduction in the area of interstitium relative to the control group. The numbers of spermatogonia-A, primary and secondary spermatocytes, and early spermatids showed a strong positive association with regard to their respective cyst size. Furthermore, fish administered 20 µg of GAL-A exhibited significant increases in the percentage of GnRH-immunoreactive fibres within the nucleus lateralis tuberis and proximal pars distalis of the pituitary gland, concomitant with significantly higher serum levels of LH, and the intensity of androgen receptor protein expression in the testis when compared to control groups. The in vitro experimental results revealed a significantly increased level of 11-KT in the testis treated with 30 or 300 µM of GAL-A when compared to the control group. Together, these results demonstrate for the first time that GAL-A enhances spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in the testis. GAL-A may influence these effects through the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and directly at the testicular level in teleosts.</p>","PeriodicalId":12274,"journal":{"name":"Fish Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"51 4","pages":"117"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144495436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ameliorative potential of dietary supplements, ZnO-K, citrus essential oil, and pumpkin seed oil, on sperm quality in Nile tilapia: Insights from CASA, DNA integrity, antioxidant enzymes, and gene expressions.","authors":"Marwa M Ali, Kamal Fathy Elboray, Engy T Megahed, Hany T Abu-Taleb, Alshimaa E Elsayed, Eman Y Mohammady, Mona S Amer, Soliman A Morsi, Eman M Abbas, Mohamed S Hassaan, Hosam Elsaied","doi":"10.1007/s10695-025-01529-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10695-025-01529-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Improving sperm quality is essential for enhancing the reproductive efficiency of Oreochromis niloticus. This study evaluated the effect of three dietary antioxidant supplements, kaolinite-doped zinc oxide (ZnO-K), citrus essential oil (CEO), and pumpkin seed oil (PSO), on sperm quality parameters. A suite of integrative assessments, including Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA) parameters, spermatozoa DNA integrity, antioxidant enzyme assays, and gene expression profiling, was applied to validate sperm quality. A total of 192 adult males (mean weight 421.31 g ± 30.41 SD) were assigned to four dietary groups, each with three replicates. The control group received a basal diet without supplementation. The experimental groups were fed diets supplemented with ZnO-K (0.06 g kg⁻¹), CEO (10 g kg⁻¹), or PSO (15 g kg⁻¹). ZnO-K supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) increased milt volume (1.40 ± 0.10 ml) and sperm concentration (5.676 × 10⁹ sperm ml^-1), along with marked improvements in CASA parameters (sperm motility and velocity) and DNA integrity. Antioxidant enzymes, catalase, CAT, glutathione peroxidase, GPX, and superoxide dismutase, SOD, were also significantly elevated in the ZnO-K group, recording activity values of 47.333 ± 1.452 U ml^-1 milt, 65.667 ± 5.547 mU ml^-1 milt and 60.667 ± 3.382 U ml^-1 milt, respectively. Gene expression analysis revealed that CEO induced the highest upregulation of HSP70, while both CEO and ZnO-K significantly upregulated CC chemokine expression compared to control. In contrast, PSO consistently showed the lowest performance across all measured parameters. Collectively, ZnO-K supplementation most effectively enhanced sperm physiological and biochemical quality, whereas CEO predominantly supported cellular stress protection through gene expression modulation. These findings offered practical implications for optimizing artificial reproduction and sperm cryopreservation strategies in tilapia aquaculture.</p>","PeriodicalId":12274,"journal":{"name":"Fish Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"51 4","pages":"114"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12185577/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144474364","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Transcriptome analysis of glyptosternum maculatum (sisoridae: siluriformes) provided insights into sexual dimorphism, Xizang, China.","authors":"Haoming He, Mengyu Wu, Zhuangzhuang Wang, Jianshe Zhou, Wanliang Wang","doi":"10.1007/s10695-025-01520-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s10695-025-01520-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Glyptosternum maculatum, designated as a second-class nationally protected aquatic species in Xizang, China, has been categorized as critically endangered on the Red List of China's Vertebrates. This species exhibits significant sexual dimorphism. The primary objective of this research was to explore and analyze the genetic components underlying sexual variations in G. maculatum. In this investigation, transcriptomic methodologies were utilized to identify potential genes contributing to sexual dimorphism in G. maculatum. The transcriptomic analysis yielded 9788 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between males and females, with 5490 upregulated and 4157 downregulated. Enrichment analysis via the KEGG pathway identified substantial enrichment of DEGs in six pathways central to sex determination, sexual differentiation, and gonadal development. These pathways were grouped into three primary signaling pathways: P450 pigment synthesis, steroid biosynthesis, and energy metabolism. Functional annotation additionally pinpointed 16 genes exhibiting high expression levels during sexual differentiation, including cyp19a, dmrtX1, SOX9, kiss2, and FSHR. These genes, previously substantiated in other teleost species, were confirmed to play crucial roles in sex determination. This study offers substantial theoretical foundation and empirical data, thereby facilitating future endeavors in identifying sex-determining genes, dissecting their functional aspects, and advancing the development of all-male offspring in G. maculatum.</p>","PeriodicalId":12274,"journal":{"name":"Fish Physiology and Biochemistry","volume":"51 4","pages":"113"},"PeriodicalIF":2.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144316280","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}