Species-specific differences in DNA damage sensitivity at early developmental stage: A comparative study of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

DNA damage in embryos shapes the development of an organism. Understanding life stage-specific differences between fish species is essential for ecological risk assessment measures. We explored DNA damage sensitivity in two nonmodel fish species, sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) and common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Embryos of these species were exposed to a model genotoxicant, camptothecin (CPT), during cleavage (2-cell) stage and gastrulation. Results revealed a species-specific DNA damage sensitivity only at cleavage stage. 3 nM CPT caused lethality in sterlet embryos while carp embryos hatched normally. Multiple nuclear abnormalities were observed in sterlet embryos by early gastrula stage. However, carp embryos exhibited nuclear abnormalities and DNA fragmentation at neurula stage only when exposed to 7 nM CPT. Moreover, increased expression of tp53 in carp embryos at gastrula stage suggests activation of apoptosis mechanism. These findings suggest that carp embryos activate DNA damage response more efficiently than sterlet embryos at same developmental stage.