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Histone Variants during Gametogenesis and Early Development

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Epigenetics and Human Reproduction

Part of the book series: Epigenetics and Human Health ((EHH))

Abstract

The objective of this chapter is to give an overview of the role of histone variants mainly in mammalian spermatogenesis. Two aspects emerge: their roles in the process of spermatogenesis itself and second, are histones including their variants instrumental in passing on information to the next generation? As to the first topic, enough experimental data have been assembled to be certain about the role of histone variants, accommodating chromatin regulation especially for meiosis and spermatid nucleus elongation.

As to the second question, there is only nonconclusive experimental evidence for a role of histone variants per se, although the concept of male-transmitted epigenetic inheritance and effects has been convincingly proven for the mouse.

The biological value in such a concept is that adaptation to newly arising circumstances does not have to rely on mutation and selection only, but could be accommodated on a shorter time axis. One particular area where some of the variation in transmission, putatively evoked by sperm-retained histones, could be studied is in the sphere of human artificial reproduction because male gametes, that in a free competition would never lead to offspring, are now called to action and are capable of producing offspring of normal phenotype.

An overview will be given on histones in meiosis, during spermiogenesis and preserved in sperm. Subsequently, mouse data on the principle of male transgenerational inheritance and effects are provided. The chapter is closed by formulations on future directions of research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecologyz, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    P. de Boer & M. de Vries

  2. National Centre of Applied Human Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India

    S. Gochhait

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  1. P. de Boer
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  2. M. de Vries
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  3. S. Gochhait
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Correspondence to P. de Boer .

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  1. INSERM U309, Labo. Biologie Moléculaire et, Institut Albert Bonniot, La Tronche CX, 38706, France

    Sophie Rousseaux

  2. INSERM U309, Labo. Biologie Moléculaire et, Institut Albert Bonniot, La Tronche CX, 38706, France

    Saadi Khochbin

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de Boer, P., de Vries, M., Gochhait, S. (2011). Histone Variants during Gametogenesis and Early Development. In: Rousseaux, S., Khochbin, S. (eds) Epigenetics and Human Reproduction. Epigenetics and Human Health. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-14773-9_8

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