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Gestational effects of maternal folic acid supplementation on DNA methylation in newborn rat pups (827.11)
Author(s) -
Ly Anna,
Ishiguro Lisa,
Kim Denise,
Im David,
Kim SungEun,
Sohn KyoungJin,
Kim YoungIn
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.28.1_supplement.827.11
Subject(s) - pregnancy , gestation , offspring , dna methylation , methylation , endocrinology , medicine , fetus , gestational age , biology , biochemistry , gene expression , dna , genetics , gene
Gestational effects of maternal folic acid supplementation on DNA methylation in newborn rat pups Anna Ly, Lisa Ishiguro, Denise Kim, David Im, Sung‐Eun Kim, Kyoung‐Jin Sohn, Young‐In Kim University of Toronto & St. Michael’s Hospital DNA methylation is reprogrammed in utero and maternal folic acid (FA) supplementation has been shown to modulate DNA methylation in the offspring. We determined which gestation period is most sensitive to the effect of maternal FA supplementation on DNA methylation. Pregnant rats were randomized to 5 FA interventions: a control diet throughout pregnancy, FA supplementation at 2.5x the control in 1 st , 2 nd , or 3 rd week gestation only or throughout pregnancy. Pups were killed at birth and blood, brain, liver, kidney and colon processed. Pups from dams fed the control diet throughout pregnancy had significantly lower plasma folate levels compared to the FA supplemented groups (p<0.001). Pups from dams supplemented with FA during the 2 nd or 3 rd week gestation or throughout pregnancy had significantly higher brain folate levels compared to other groups (p<0.001). Pups from dams supplemented with FA throughout pregnancy had significantly higher liver folate levels compared to other groups (p=0.005). Brain global DNA methylation incrementally decreased from early to late gestational FA supplementation and was the lowest in pups from dams supplemented with FA throughout pregnancy (p=0.026). Liver global DNA methylation was lower in pups from dams supplemented with FA throughout pregnancy compared with other groups (p=0.07). No significant difference in folate levels and DNA methylation was observed in the kidney or colon among the 5 groups. Pups from dams supplemented with FA in late gestation or throughout pregnancy had lower Er‐, Gr and Ppar‐ gene expression in the liver compared to other groups (p<0.05). Our data suggest that maternal FA supplementation affects tissue folate levels, DNA methylation and gene expression in an organ and gestation‐specific manner.