title: Paternal intergenerational epigenetic response to heat exposure in male Wild guinea pigs.
abstract: Epigenetic modifications, of which DNA methylation is the best studied one, can convey environmental information through generations via parental germ lines. Past studies have focused on the maternal transmission of epigenetic information to the offspring of isogenic mice and rats in response to external changes, whereas heterogeneous wild mammals as well as paternal epigenetic effects have been widely neglected. In most wild mammal species, males are the dispersing sex and have to cope with differing habitats and thermal changes. As temperature is a major environmental factor we investigated if genetically heterogeneous Wild guinea pig (Cavia aperea) males can adapt epigenetically to an increase in temperature and if that response will be transmitted to the next generation(s). Five adult male guinea pigs (F0) were exposed to an increased ambient temperature for 2 months, i.e. the duration of spermatogenesis. We studied the liver (as the main thermoregulatory organ) of F0 fathers and F1 sons, and testes of F1 sons for paternal transmission of epigenetic modifications across generation(s). Reduced representation bisulphite sequencing revealed shared differentially methylated regions in annotated areas between F0 livers before and after heat treatment, and their sons' livers and testes, which indicated a general response with ecological relevance. Thus, paternal exposure to a temporally limited increased ambient temperature led to an 'immediate' and 'heritable' epigenetic response that may even be transmitted to the F2 generation. In the context of globally rising temperatures epigenetic mechanisms may become increasingly relevant for the survival of species.
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weyrich
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Dorina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lenz
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.|Berlin Center for Genomics in Biodiversity Research, Königin-Luise-Str 6-8, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jeschek
authors.affiliation: Zymoresearch, EpiQuest, 17062 Murphy Ave., Irvine, CA, 92614, USA.
authors.forename: Tzu Hung
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rübensam
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Göritz
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jewgenow
authors.affiliation: Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Alfred-Kowalke-Str. 17, 10315, Berlin, Germany.|Potsdam University, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 22-24, 14476, Potsdam, Germany.
authors.forename: Jörns
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fickel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000235:genetics*; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*
keywords: Cavia aperea; DNA methylation; adaptation; environmental factor; global change; plasticity; temperature increase