Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 31, 2025
14:40
Instrumentation of Near-term Fetal Sheep for Multivariate Chronic Non-anesthetized Recordings
Published on: October 25, 2015
9.8K
Developmental programming: prenatal testosterone-induced epigenetic modulation and its effect on gene expression in
Niharika Sinha1, Sambit Roy1, Binbin Huang2
1Department of Animal Sciences, Reproductive and Developmental Sciences Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
Biology of Reproduction
|January 14, 2020
Summary
Prenatal testosterone exposure in sheep alters ovarian gene expression and epigenetic marks, potentially contributing to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) development later in life.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Developmental Programming
- Epigenetics
Background:
- Maternal health during fetal development influences offspring's long-term health.
- Prenatal androgen excess is linked to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in humans and animals.
- PCOS is a common endocrine disorder associated with infertility and metabolic dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate epigenetic modifications in ovaries following prenatal testosterone (T) exposure.
- To determine the impact of prenatal T on gene expression in fetal and adult sheep ovaries.
- To establish a mechanistic link between epigenetic changes and PCOS-related gene expression.
Main Methods:
- Sheep model of PCOS phenotype.
- RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to analyze gene expression in fetal (D90) and adult (Y2) ovaries.
- Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) to assess histone modifications (H3K27ac, H3K9ac, H3K4me3, H3K27me3, H3K9me3) on gene promoters.
Main Results:
- Prenatal T exposure altered gene expression in both fetal (65 genes) and adult (99 genes) ovaries.
- Histone marks showed no significant changes in fetal ovaries but were upregulated in adult ovaries (except H3K4me3 and H3K27me3).
- ChIP confirmed increased H3K27ac and H3K9ac on upregulated genes and increased H3K9me3 on downregulated genes in adult ovaries.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal testosterone exposure induces lasting epigenetic changes in the ovary.
- These epigenetic modifications correlate with altered gene expression, providing a mechanism for PCOS development.
- This study offers insights into developmental programming and its role in reproductive disorders like PCOS.
Keywords:
PCOSepigeneticsgene expressionhistone modificationsprenatal exposuresheep ovarytestosteroneMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:08Cloning of Dolly the Sheep
6.8K
The first successfully cloned mammal was Dolly, a sheep, born on 5th July 1996 at Roslin Institute, Scotland. The cloned sheep was named after the American singer Dolly Parton. Dolly lived for seven years and died of respiratory complications, which is speculated to be due to the actual age of her DNA. Because the DNA in cloned cells belongs to an older individual, the cloned individual’s life expectancy may be affected. Indeed, analysis of Dolly’s DNA revealed shorter...
6.8K
02:30Genomic Imprinting and Inheritance
36.6K
Diploid organisms inherit genetic material through chromosomes from both parents. Copies of the same gene are known as alleles. In most cases, both alleles are simultaneously expressed and allow various cellular processes to function optimally. If one of the alleles is missing or mutated, the expression of the other allele can compensate; however, this is not true for all genes.
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
The expression of some genes depends on which parent passed the gene to the offspring, through a phenomenon known as...
36.6K
01:37Epigenetic Regulation
3.7K
Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
X-chromosome...
3.7K
01:46Epigenetic Regulation
33.3K
Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
33.3K
01:26Testosterone: Functions and Regulation
1.9K
The intricate hormonal interplay essential for male reproductive health begins with the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) by the hypothalamus. This hormone prompts the pituitary gland to secrete follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). LH targets the Leydig cells in the testes, stimulating them to produce and release testosterone. In concert with testosterone, FSH acts on the Sertoli cells within the seminiferous tubules to facilitate the release of...
1.9K
02:07Oogenesis
68.7K
In human women, oogenesis produces one mature egg cell or ovum for every precursor cell that enters meiosis. This process differs in two unique ways from the equivalent procedure of spermatogenesis in males. First, meiotic divisions during oogenesis are asymmetric, meaning that a large oocyte (containing most of the cytoplasm) and minor polar body are produced as a result of meiosis I, and again following meiosis II. Since only oocytes will go on to form embryos if fertilized, this unequal...
68.7K