Pre-implantation alcohol exposure induces lasting sex-specific DNA methylation programming errors in the developing forebrain.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Prenatal alcohol exposure is recognized for altering DNA methylation profiles of brain cells during development, and to be part of the molecular basis underpinning Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) etiology.  However, we have negligible information on the effects of alcohol exposure during pre-implantation, the early embryonic window marked with dynamic DNA methylation reprogramming, and on how this may rewire the brain developmental program.

Results

Using a pre-clinical in vivo mouse model, we show that a binge-like alcohol exposure during pre-implantation at the 8-cell stage leads to surge in morphological brain defects and adverse developmental outcomes during fetal life. Genome-wide DNA methylation analyses of fetal forebrains uncovered sex-specific alter

SUBMITTER: Legault LM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8381495 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature