Paternal alcohol exposure affects sperm cytosine methyltransferase messenger RNA levels.
BACKGROUND
Although paternal alcohol exposure has been shown to affect the growth and behavior of offspring, the mechanisms underlying these effects still remain to be elucidated. This study examines one possible mechanism, namely, altered genomic imprinting as reflected by changes in sperm cytosine methyltransferase messenger RNA (mRNA) levels.


METHODS
Male rats were treated with alcohol for 9 weeks before breeding. Resulting fetuses were counted and weighed, and paternal sperm was examined for changes in cytosine methyltransferase mRNA levels.


RESULTS
Alcohol did not affect mating, fecundity, or litter size, but it did result in significantly decreased mean fetal weight, increased fetal runt incidence in offspring, and decreased cytosine methyltransferase mRNA levels in paternal sperm, compared with pair-fed and ad libitum controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol-induced reductions in cytosine methyltransferase mRNA levels may reflect altered genomic imprinting caused by reduced DNA methylation, which, in turn, may lead to the expression of normally silent paternal alleles and may be a mechanism for paternal alcohol effects.
Bielawski
Dawn M
DM
Hutzel Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
Zaher
Fadi M
FM
Svinarich
David M
DM
Abel
Ernest L
EL
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D003307:Copulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D005327:Fetal Resorption / Q000201:enzymology; D020567:Fetal Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008098:Litter Size / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D018812:Paternal Exposure / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000431:Ethanol; D004248:DNA (Cytosine-5-)-Methyltransferases