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Epigenetic changes brought about by perinatal stressors: a brief review of the literature

Blase Billack1, Ryan Serio, Ilton Silva

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Jamaica, NY 11439, USA. billackb@stjohns.edu

Journal of Pharmacological and Toxicological Methods
|September 18, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Perinatal stress disrupts offspring sexual development and behavior. This review explores toxicological impacts and epigenetic changes in response to early-life stress.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Toxicology
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Perinatal stress negatively impacts offspring sexual differentiation and behavior across animal models.
  • The underlying biochemical, cellular, genetic, and epigenetic mechanisms require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review perinatal stressors as a toxicological phenomenon.
  • To discuss recently characterized epigenetic responses to perinatal stress.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on perinatal stress.
  • Analysis of toxicological and epigenetic findings.

Main Results:

  • Perinatal stress acts as a toxicological agent affecting development.
  • Specific epigenetic modifications are identified as responses to stress.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding epigenetic responses to perinatal stress is crucial for mitigating adverse developmental outcomes.
  • Further research into these mechanisms can inform preventative strategies.
Abstract

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