Molecular details on gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) sensitivity to low water temperatures from 1H NMR metabolomics

Biometric and metabolic responses of gilthead sea bream to cold challenge are described following a growth trial divided into three water temperature steps, namely cooling, cold maintenance and recovery. Experimental data provide a useful description of fish response to thermal stress at both zootechnical and molecular level. Although no mortality has been observed, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-based metabolomics confirms the marked sensitivity of this fish species to low water temperature, and explains some key molecular events associated to fish response to cold. Increase in hepatosomatic index is associated to liver fat accumulation, as a consequence of lipid mobilization from muscle and other extrahepatic tissues, and metabolic rearrangements linked to homeoviscous adaptation of cellular membranes are observed. Following primary responses to descending temperature from 18 °C to 11 °C, the energetic metabolism (insulin signaling, glycolysis) is first clearly affected; then, at constant low water temperature (11 °C), the most perturbed metabolic pathways are related to methionine cycle in liver, while osmoregulatory function is exerted by TMAO in muscle. Water temperature recovery from 11 °C to 18 °C stimulates gluconeogenesis and glycogen synthesis activities at hepatic level, although the rate of a thermo-compensatory response seems to be slower than that of the cooling phase. The obtained results are intended to guide novel high-performance feed formulations for gilthead sea bream reared during winter.