title: Conserved methylation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene exon 1(7) promoter in rats subjected to a maternal methyl-supplemented diet.
abstract: It is well known that the early life experiences affect stress responses and other physiological and behavioral traits in adulthood. Both rat and human studies have shown that early postnatal effects are associated with methylation of the hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor gene exon 1(7) (rat) and 1-F (human) promoters. Methylation of these sites is also seen following methionine administration in adult rats. However, it remains unclear whether similar alterations in DNA methylation profiles can result from prenatal influences. To address this question, we fed pregnant rats a methyl-supplemented diet that resulted in alteration of the stress response. However, methylation analysis revealed no effect of methyl supplements on methylation patterns of the glucocorticoid receptor gene exon 1(7) promoter in offspring. These results suggest that the pre- and postnatal effects of methyl supplementation have different mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, pr-t Lavrentyeva 10, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia. herbek@bionet.nsc.ru
authors.forename: Yury E
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Herbeck
authors.forename: Rimma G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Gulevich
authors.forename: Olga A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Amelkina
authors.forename: Irina Z
authors.initials: IZ
authors.lastname: Plyusnina
authors.forename: Irina N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Oskina
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004032:Diet; D005091:Exons; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009035:Mothers; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D039401:Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000178:diet therapy; D013431:Sulfates
chemical_list: D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D013431:Sulfates; C012036:sodium sulfate