How hard is Octopus maya embryo’s life?

Abstract

Embryos inherit ROS (reactive oxygen species) from females, suggesting they are produced in females due to the metabolic processes that occur in the ovary during the last part of the yolk synthesis and implying ROS production in females is a natural part of their reproductive processes. Embryos have a piece of genetic machinery to produce antioxidant/detoxification enzymes. ANTIOX enzymes help reduce ROS levels once organogenesis is completed and indicate the embryos are prepared to buffer and neutralize the ROS inherited from females. Thus, the present study provides some information on SOD (superoxide dismutase), CAT (catalase), and HIF1 (hypoxia-inducible factor 1) gene expressions during embryonic development. CAT gene expression is present from the first developmental stage, increases during organogenesis, and remains stable until hatching indicates that this gene is maintained throughout the embryonic development process. For SOD genes that SOD1 expression is present from the first development stage. Regarding the HIF1A gene, ROS induces its expression and is crucial for embryonic vascularization, suggesting that this gene expression may be elevated during the embryonic development activation stage when mitochondrial ROS production increases. ROS in O. maya eggs were controlled by embryos during the embryo growth phase. When measuring HMR, stimulated by the increase in temperature (30°C), the embryos maintain a metabolic rate very similar to their RMR measured at 24°C.