Network analysis reveals that acute stress exacerbates gene regulatory responses of the gill to seawater in Atlantic salmon ...

• Main Authors: Monette, Michelle, Velotta, Jonathan
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: Dryad 2022
• Subjects: FOS Biological sciences; osmoregulation; stress; smolt; WGCNA; Atlantic salmon
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5061/dryad.c2fqz61b3; https://datadryad.org/stash/dataset/doi:10.5061/dryad.c2fqz61b3

The transition from freshwater to seawater represents a physiological challenge for Atlantic salmon smolts preparing for downstream migration. Stressors occurring during downstream migration to the ocean impair the ability of smolts to maintain osmotic/ionic homeostasis in seawater. The molecular mechanisms underlying this interaction are not fully understood, especially at the organ level. We combined RNA-Seq with measures of whole-animal homeostasis to examine gene expression dynamics in the gills of smolts associated with impaired seawater tolerance after an aquaculture-related stressor. Smolts were given a 24 h seawater tolerance test before and after exposure to an acute handling/confinement stress. RNA-Seq followed by differential expression and weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was used to quantify the transcriptional response of the gill to handling/confinement stress, seawater and their interaction. Exposure to acute stress was associated with a general stress response and impaired ...