Unveiling the dynamics of embryogenesis and immune genes expression pattern in the Amur common carp (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus)

Amur common carp (Cyprinus carpio haematopterus), is a commercially important fish species that has been genetically improved over the years through selective breeding. Despite its significance in aquaculture, limited knowledge exists regarding its embryogenesis and immune genes associated with its early stages of life. This article represents a detailed study of the embryogenesis and innate immune gene expression analysis of the Amur common carp during its ontogenic developments. The entire embryonic developmental process of ∼ 44h could be divided into eight periods, beginning with the formation of the zygote, followed by cleavage, morula, blastula, segmentation, pharyngula, and hatching. The segmentation period, which lasted for ∼ 6h, exhibited the most significant changes, such as muscle contraction, rudimentary heart formation, increased somites number, and the initiation of blood circulation throughout the yolk. The expression of immune-related genes, namely toll-like receptor (TLR)4, nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)1, NOD2 and interleukin (IL)-8 showed stage-specific patterns with varying levels of expression across the developmental stages. The TLR4 gene exhibited the highest expression during the neurella stage, while NOD1 and NOD2 peaked during hatching and IL-8 reached its maximum level during the gastrula stage. This is the first report of the innate immune gene expression during the embryogenesis of Amur common carp.