Single-nucleus transcriptomics links telencephalic cell signatures to ocean acidification effects on social behaviour in a coral reef fish

Elevated CO2 exposure in the cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus) is linked to a substantial depletion of Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells (OPCs) in telencephalic single-nucleus RNA profiles.

• Why it matters: Ocean acidification is implicated in impairing interaction behaviours, but the cellular states and brain communication changes underlying this remain unclear.
• What they did: Single-nucleus transcriptomics of ~66,000 telencephalic nuclei from cleaner wrasse exposed to ambient versus elevated CO2 identified cell type–specific transcriptional shifts and co-expression changes, plus altered cell-cell communication.
• The result: Elevated CO2 remodels signalling pathways, including SEMA4 and PTPR, in radial glial and OPCs, revealing neural network rewiring that may destabilise physiologic equilibrium and mutualistic behaviour.

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