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Ammonia Exposure Elevated 5-HT Expression, Reprogrammed Transcriptome and Microbiota Community in Yellow Catfish
Yuqing Jian1, Kexin Xiong1, Jiahong Zou1
1Key Laboratory of Aquacultural Facility Engineering (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China.
Microorganisms
|May 4, 2026
Summary
Ammonia exposure harms young fish by damaging gills and altering gene expression, impacting respiration through serotonin regulation. It also disrupts gill microbes, increasing pathogen risk and affecting fish health.
Area of Science:
- Aquatic toxicology
- Fish physiology
- Environmental science
Background:
- Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) accumulate ammonia, posing risks to fish.
- Limited knowledge exists on ammonia's effects during early fish development (ontogeny).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of ammonia on yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) during larval and juvenile stages.
- To evaluate effects on gill transcriptome, microbiota, and serotonergic regulation.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of larval and juvenile yellow catfish to varying total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentrations.
- Analysis of gill transcriptome, gene expression (qRT-PCR), and gill microbiota (16S sequencing).
- Assessment of serotonin (5-HT) signal localization and expression.
Main Results:
- Ammonia exposure reduced survival, damaged gill structure, and elevated 5-HT expression.
- Upregulation of genes related to respiration and the urea cycle observed with increased ammonia.
- Ammonia altered gill microbiota composition, increasing opportunistic pathogens and decreasing stress-resistant bacteria.
- Serotonergic regulation was identified as a key pathway affected by ammonia.
Conclusions:
- Ammonia exposure disrupts gill transcriptomic and microecological balance in early-stage fish.
- Serotonergic pathways play a role in respiratory adaptation to ammonia stress.
- Microbial dysbiosis in gills may increase susceptibility to infections under ammonia stress.
