Transgenelation of behavioral abnormaliteis associated with DNA methylation signatures in sperm

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K15425
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Psychiatric science
• Research Institution: University of Fukui
• Principal Investigator: MATSUZAKI Hideo 福井大学, 子どものこころの発達研究センター, 教授 (00334970)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 母体ストレス / マウス / 行動異常 / 遺伝子発現 / 精子 / エピジェネティックマーク

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we find that maternal stress influences behavior in subsequent generations. In addition, some gene expressions involved in the abnormal behaviors are changed in brains of subsequent generations. We also find that methylation status of these gene in sperm DNA is changed in subsequent generations. From these results, transgenelation of behavioral abnormalities associated with DNA methylation in sperm is suggested. In the future, detailed experiments of DNA methylation in sperm is needed.

Free Research Field

分子精神医学