Male germline transmits fetal alcohol adverse effect on hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin gene across generations.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Neurons containing proopiomelanocortin (POMC)-derived peptides, known to control stress axis, metabolic, and immune functions, have a lower function in patients with a family history of alcoholism, raising the possibility that alcohol effects on the POMC system may transmit through generations. Here we describe epigenetic modifications of Pomc gene that transmit through generation via male germline and may be critically involved in alcoholism-inherited diseases.

Methods

Whether an epigenetic mechanism is involved in causing a Pomc expression deficit in fetal alcohol-exposed rats is studied by determining Pomc gene methylation, expression, and functional abnormalities and their normalization following suppression of DNA methylation or histone acetylation. Additiona

SUBMITTER: Govorko D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3414692 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature