Melatonin injection and red light irradiation affect the antioxidant response and cell damage in disk abalone (Haliotis discus hannai) exposed to high water temperatures

Abstract

The effects of red light-emitting diode (LED) light irradiation (630 nm, 0.5 W/m²) and melatonin (10⁻⁸ and 10⁻⁷M) on oxidative stress and physiological responses in abalones exposed to high temperatures (28°C) were investigated. Changes in messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of melatonin receptor (MT-R), heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), and antioxidant enzymes, as well as alterations in H₂O₂ levels in the hemolymph, were examined. The results revealed that high-temperature-stressed abalones treated with melatonin injections or exposed to red LED light showed a significant increase in MT-R mRNA expression, while HSP70 mRNA expression decreased. Notably, HSP70 mRNA expression levels in the red LED light-irradiated group were similar to those in the group injected with 10⁻⁸M melatonin after 24 h exposure. Abalones treated with melatonin at 20°C or irradiated with red LED light exhibited decreased H₂O₂ levels and reduced antioxidant enzyme mRNA expression compared with those of the control group. However, the high-temperature environment induced oxidative stress in abalones, leading to increased antioxidant enzyme mRNA expression compared with that under 20°C conditions. Moreover, abalones exposed to high-temperature stress exhibited hepatopancreatic DNA damage, which was attenuated by melatonin treatment or red LED light irradiation. Hence, red LED light reduces oxidative stress, boosts antioxidant enzymes, and alleviates DNA damage in high-temperature-stressed abalones, akin to 10⁻⁸M melatonin treatment. Therefore, considering the practical challenges of continuous melatonin administration to abalones, utilizing red LED light emerges as a practical, effective alternative to protect abalones from oxidative stress compared to 10⁻⁸M melatonin treatment.