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Updated: Jan 2, 2026

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
Published on: March 6, 2018
Rat liver epigenome programing by perinatal exposure to 2,2',4'4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether
Alexander Suvorov1,2, Vladimir Naumov3, Victoria Shtratnikova2,4
1Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health & Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts 686 North Pleasant Street Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
Abstract:
Perinatal exposures to polybrominated diphenyl ethers permanently reprogram liver metabolism and induce a nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-like phenotype and insulin resistance in rodents. Aim: To test if these changes are associated with altered liver epigenome. Materials & methods: Expression of small RNA and changes in DNA methylation in livers of adult rats were analyzed following perinatal exposure to 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether, the polybrominated diphenyl ether congener most prevalent in human tissues. Results: We identified 33 differentially methylated DNA regions and 15 differentially expressed miRNAs. These changes were enriched for terms related to lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, insulin signaling, Type-2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Conclusion: Changes in the liver epigenome are a likely candidate mechanism of long-term maintenance of an aberrant metabolic phenotype.
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