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Updated: Nov 5, 2025

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants
06:39

Using a Murine Model of Psychosocial Stress in Pregnancy as a Translationally Relevant Paradigm for Psychiatric Disorders in Mothers and Infants

Published on: June 13, 2021

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Intergenerational effects of maternal post-traumatic stress disorder on offspring epigenetic patterns and cortisol

Line Hjort1,2, Feride Rushiti3, Shr-Jie Wang4

  • 1Department of Obstetrics, Center for Pregnant Women with Diabetes, Rigshospitalet, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.

Epigenomics
|May 17, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Maternal post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during pregnancy is linked to higher cortisol levels and altered DNA methylation in children. This suggests biological pathways for intergenerational trauma transmission.

Area of Science:

  • Psychiatry
  • Genetics
  • Developmental Psychology

Background:

  • Intergenerational transmission of trauma is a significant public health concern.
  • Maternal mental health during pregnancy can impact offspring development.
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition that can affect women exposed to severe trauma.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between maternal PTSD during pregnancy and epigenetic changes (DNA methylation) and stress hormone levels (cortisol) in offspring.
  • To explore potential biological mechanisms underlying the intergenerational transmission of trauma effects.

Main Methods:

  • Genome-wide DNA methylation and cortisol levels were measured in the youngest child of 117 mothers.
  • Mothers had experienced sexual violence or torture during the Kosovo war.
  • PTSD symptoms during pregnancy were assessed in mothers.

Main Results:

  • 72% of mothers reported PTSD symptoms during pregnancy.
  • Children of mothers with PTSD exhibited higher cortisol levels.
  • Differential DNA methylation was observed in offspring at candidate genes including NR3C1, HTR3A, and BDNF.
  • No epigenome-wide significant methylation differences were found.

Conclusions:

  • Maternal PTSD during pregnancy may influence offspring's biological stress response and epigenetic profile.
  • Identifying these biological pathways is crucial for interrupting the intergenerational cycle of mental health disorders.
  • Further research is needed to understand the long-term implications of these findings.

Keywords:
DNA methylationPTSDcortisolepigeneticsintergenerationalmaternal stressoffspring

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