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Published on: July 12, 2024
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Maternal stress effects across generations in a precocial bird
Marion Charrier1,2,3, Sophie Lumineau1, Isabelle George1
1Univ Rennes, CNRS, Normandie Univ, EthoS (Éthologie animale et humaine), UMR 6552, Rennes, France.
Royal Society Open Science
|August 29, 2024
Summary
Prenatal maternal stress (PMS) impacts offspring behavior across generations. This study found PMS effects on Japanese quail behavior extending to the third generation, even without epigenetic marks in F3 brains.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics and Behavioral Science
- Transgenerational Inheritance Studies
- Animal Behavior Research
Background:
- Prenatal maternal stress (PMS) is recognized to influence the first generation (F1) offspring phenotype.
- Evidence suggests PMS may also affect subsequent generations, indicating potential transgenerational effects.
- Previous research in Japanese quail linked PMS in F1 to brain histone modifications (H3K27me3) and egg hormonal changes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if PMS can induce lasting behavioral changes in second (F2) and third (F3) generation Japanese quail.
- To determine the persistence of epigenetic marks and hormonal modulations across generations following PMS.
- To analyze the generational differences in behavioral responses to PMS.
Main Methods:
- Utilized principal component analysis to assess behavioral profiles of F2 and F3 quail generations.
- Examined histone post-translational modifications (H3K27me3) in the brains of F3 offspring.
- Analyzed the levels of androstenedione in eggs across F1 and F2 generations.
Main Results:
- Prenatal maternal stress (PMS) influenced the behavioral profiles of F2 and F3 quail generations, with generational variations.
- Observed increased neophobia in F2 quail and increased fearfulness and neophobia in female F3 quail.
- No significant changes in H3K27me3 levels were found in F3 brains; androstenedione levels showed inconsistent modulations in F1 and F2 eggs.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal maternal stress (PMS) can exert phenotypical effects that extend into the third generation of Japanese quail.
- Behavioral alterations due to PMS can persist across generations, even when specific epigenetic markers are not detected in later generations.
- The findings highlight the complex nature of transgenerational inheritance of stress responses, with potential sex-specific effects.
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