Aberrant DNA methylation and gene expression in livers of newborn mice transplacentally exposed to a hepatocarcinogenic dose of inorganic arsenic.

ABSTRACT: Our prior work showed that brief exposure of pregnant C3H mice to inorganic arsenic-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) formation in adult male offspring. The current study examined the early hepatic events associated with this oncogenic transformation. Pregnant mice were exposed to a known carcinogenic dose of arsenic (85 ppm) in the drinking water from gestation days 8 to 18. The dams were allowed to give birth and liver samples from newborn males were analyzed for arsenic content, global DNA methylation and aberrant expression of genes relevant to the carcinogenic process. Arsenic content in newborn liver reached 57 ng/g wet weight, indicating arsenic had crossed the placenta, reached the fetal liver and that significant amounts remained after birth. Global methylation status of hepa

SUBMITTER: Xie Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2465467 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature