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Plasma metabolomics profiling for fish maturation in blunt snout bream

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Abstract

Introduction

In some fish species, it is difficult to distinguish mature females from immature females or females that have already spawned via appearance or other convenient methods. Few studies have investigated plasma metabolite profiling for the prediction of fish maturation.

Objectives

We investigated the comprehensive metabolic profiles of plasma among immature females and mature females ready to spawn, as well as already spawned breeders of blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala). The purpose of this study was to screen out potential biomarkers for sexually mature female M. amblycephala compared to immature female individuals and already spawned breeders.

Methods

Three groups were set up in this study, which included 1-year-old immature females, 2-year-old sexually mature females ready to spawn and successfully spawned females of M. amblycephala. Plasma samples were collected to investigate comprehensive metabolic profiles through UPLC-MS/MS based on a metabolomics analysis method.

Results

According to multivariate and univariate statistical analysis, plasma metabolite profiles of the three groups were clearly separated. The differential plasma metabolites from three hormone related pathways including the GnRH signaling pathway, steroid hormone biosynthesis and steroid biosynthesis, were analyzed. A total of 29 metabolites were identified as differential biomarkers associated with the female maturation status.

Conclusion

The identified potential biomarkers could be useful in separating mature M. amblycephala from immature individuals or ovulation-induced female individuals, which would allow for more effective artificial breeding. The results may contribute to a better understanding of the maturation mechanisms of fish in the aspect of metabolomics.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Boxiang Chen and Ms. Weizhuo Zhang for their assistance with fish sampling throughout the study. This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 31472271), the Modern Agriculture Industry Technology System Construction Projects of China entitled-Staple Freshwater Fishes Industry Technology System (Grant No. CARS-46-05), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. 2662015PY088) and the Wuhan Youth Science and Technology Plan (Grant No. 2016070204010143).

Author contributions

Conceived the study: ZXG; Designed the study: ZXG and LFZ; Performed the experiments: LFZ, BWZ, NNG and WMW; Analyzed the data and performed the statistical analysis and bioinformatics: LFZ, NNG and ZXG; Drafted the manuscript: ZXG and LFZ.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, 430070, China

    Lai-Fang Zhou, Bo-Wen Zhao, Ning-Nan Guan, Wei-Min Wang & Ze-Xia Gao

  2. Collaborative Innovation Center for Healthy Freshwater Aquaculture of Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430070, China

    Lai-Fang Zhou, Bo-Wen Zhao, Ning-Nan Guan & Ze-Xia Gao

  3. Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Wuhan, 430070, China

    Ze-Xia Gao

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  1. Lai-Fang Zhou
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  2. Bo-Wen Zhao
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  4. Wei-Min Wang
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Correspondence to Ze-Xia Gao.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest in relation to the study described.

Ethical approval

The study was approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Ethics Committee of Huazhong Agricultural University.

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Zhou, LF., Zhao, BW., Guan, NN. et al. Plasma metabolomics profiling for fish maturation in blunt snout bream. Metabolomics 13, 40 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11306-017-1182-2

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