Prenatal exposure to ethanol: a specific effect on the H19 gene in sperm

Reprod Toxicol. 2011 May;31(4):507-12. doi: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2011.02.009. Epub 2011 Mar 5.

Abstract

Alcohol exposure during pregnancy induces a range of disorders in the offspring. Methylation changes in imprinted genes may play a role in the teratogenic effects of alcohol. We evaluated the possible effects of alcohol administration in pregnant mice on the methylation pattern of 5 imprinted genes (H19, Gtl2, Peg1, Snrpn and Peg3) in somatic and sperm cell DNAs of the male offspring. The effects observed were a 3% (p < 0.005) decrease in the number of methylated CpGs of H19 in the F1 offspring sperm, a 4% (p < 0.005) decrease in the number of methylated CpGs of H19 in the F2 offspring brain and a 26% (p < 0.05) decrease in the mean sperm concentration. CpGs 1 and 2 of the H19 CTCF-binding site 2 exhibited significant methylation percentage losses. H19 CTCF-binding sites are important for the regulation of Igf2 gene expression. The hypomethylation of H19 may contribute to the decreased spermatogenesis in the offspring.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alcohol Drinking / adverse effects*
  • Animals
  • Brain / drug effects*
  • Brain / embryology
  • Brain / metabolism
  • CpG Islands / drug effects
  • DNA Methylation / drug effects
  • Ethanol / toxicity*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / drug effects
  • Genomic Imprinting / drug effects
  • Gestational Age
  • Male
  • Maternal Exposure*
  • Mice
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects*
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • RNA, Untranslated / genetics*
  • Sperm Count
  • Spermatogenesis / drug effects*
  • Spermatogenesis / genetics
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects*
  • Spermatozoa / metabolism

Substances

  • H19 long non-coding RNA
  • RNA, Long Noncoding
  • RNA, Untranslated
  • Ethanol