Effects of acute low-temperature stress on respiratory metabolism, antioxidants, and metabolomics of red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii

Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) aquaculture is threatened by abrupt temperature decreases caused by climatic phenomena, such as cold waves and seasonal fluctuations. In this study, crayfish were exposed to an abrupt temperature change from 17 °C to 7 °C for 24 h to investigate the effects of acute low-temperatures on respiratory metabolism, antioxidants, and metabolomics. The results showed that acute low-temperatures significantly reduced the activities of pyruvate kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, and succinate dehydrogenase in the gills and hemolymph, associated with decreases in anaerobic and aerobic respiratory capacities, and significant decreases in oxygen consumption, ammonia excretion, and maximum metabolic rates. Antioxidant enzymes in the hepatopancreas and hemolymph initially increased then decreased within 24 h. Metabolomics revealed that glycerophospholipid metabolism and glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor biosynthesis pathways responded to acute low-temperatures, with glycerophospholipids being the most significantly differentially expressed metabolites. These results supported the hypothesis that crayfish exhibit lower metabolic activity at low temperatures. Our data provide mechanistic insight into the biological changes induced by acute low-temperature and may provide insight into culture of P. clarkii in cold waters.