Early-life social experience affects offspring DNA methylation and later life stress phenotype.

ABSTRACT: Studies in rodents and captive primates suggest that the early-life social environment affects future phenotype, potentially through alterations to DNA methylation. Little is known of these associations in wild animals. In a wild population of spotted hyenas, we test the hypothesis that maternal care during the first year of life and social connectedness during two periods of early development leads to differences in DNA methylation and fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) later in life. Here we report that although maternal care and social connectedness during the den-dependent life stage are not associated with fGCMs, greater social connectedness during the subadult den-independent life stage is associated with lower adult fGCMs. Additionally, more maternal care and social connectedn

SUBMITTER: Laubach ZM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8292380 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature