Exposure to extrinsic stressors, social defeat or bisphenol A, eliminates sex differences in DNA methyltransferase expression in the amygdala.

ABSTRACT: Chemical and psychological stressors can exert long lasting changes in brain function and behaviour. Changes in DNA methylation have been shown to be an important mechanism mediating long lasting changes in neural function and behaviour, especially for anxiety-like or stress responses. In the present study, we examined the effects of either a social or chemical stressor on DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) gene expression in the amygdala, an important brain region modulating stress responses and anxiety. In adult California mice (Peromyscus californicus) that were naïve to social defeat, females had higher levels of Dnmt1 expression in punch samples of the central amygdala (CeA) than males. In addition, mice that underwent social defeat stress showed reduced Dnmt1 and Dnmt3a expression in the C

SUBMITTER: Wright EC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5501704 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature