Altered hypothalamic DNA methylation and stress-induced hyperactivity following early life stress.

ABSTRACT: Exposure to early life stress (ELS) during childhood or prenatally increases the risk of future psychiatric disorders. The effect of stress exposure during the neonatal period is less well understood. In preterm infants, exposure to invasive procedures is associated with altered brain development and future stress responses suggesting that the neonatal period could be a key time for the programming of mental health. Previous studies suggest that ELS affects the hypothalamic epigenome, making it a good candidate to mediate these effects. In this study, we used a mouse model of early life stress (modified maternal separation; MMS). We hypothesised MMS would affect the hypothalamic transcriptome and DNA methylome, and impact on adult behaviour. MMS involved repeated stimulation of pups for 1.

SUBMITTER: Fitzgerald E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8247254 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature