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Bisphenol A exposure modifies DNA methylation of imprint genes in mouse fetal germ cells

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Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an estrogenic environmental toxin widely used for the production of plastics. Human frequent exposure to this chemical has been proposed to be a potential public health risk. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of BPA on DNA methylation of imprinting genes in fetal mouse germ cell. Pregnant mice were treated with BPA at doses of 0, 40, 80 and 160 μg BPA/kg body weight/day from 0.5 day post coitum. DNA methylation of imprinting genes, Igf2r, Peg3 and H19, was decreased with the increase of BPA concentration in fetal mouse germ cells (p < 0.01).The relative mRNA levels of Nobox were lower in BPA-treated group compared to control (BPA free) in female fetal germ cells, but in male fetal germ cells, a significant higher in Nobox expression was observed in BPA-treated group compared to control. Decreased mRNA expression of specific meiotic genes including Stimulated by Stra8 and Dazl were obtained in the female fetal germ cells. In conclusion, BPA exposure can affect the DNA methylation of imprinting genes in fetal mouse germ cells.

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Acknowledgments

This work is supported by National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program, 2012CB944401 and 2007CB947401), National Nature Science Foundation (31001010, 31171376 and 31101716), Foundation of Distinguished Young Scholars (JQ201109), Doctoral Foundation (BS2010NY010), Foundation of Education Department (J11LC20) and Taishan Scholar Foundation of Shandong Province, and Nature Science Foundation of Hubei Province (2011489).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Biological and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Wuhan Polytechnic University, Wuhan, 430023, China

    Xi-Feng Zhang

  2. Laboratory of Germ Cell Biology, Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China

    Xi-Feng Zhang, Lian-Jun Zhang, Yan-Ni Feng, Bo Chen, Yan-Min Feng, Gui-Jin Liang, Lan Li & Wei Shen

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  1. Xi-Feng Zhang
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Correspondence to Wei Shen.

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Zhang, XF., Zhang, LJ., Feng, YN. et al. Bisphenol A exposure modifies DNA methylation of imprint genes in mouse fetal germ cells. Mol Biol Rep 39, 8621–8628 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-012-1716-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-012-1716-7

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