Implication of sperm RNAs in transgenerational inheritance of the effects of early trauma in mice

Nat Neurosci. 2014 May;17(5):667-9. doi: 10.1038/nn.3695. Epub 2014 Apr 13.

Abstract

Small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) are potential vectors at the interface between genes and environment. We found that traumatic stress in early life altered mouse microRNA (miRNA) expression, and behavioral and metabolic responses in the progeny. Injection of sperm RNAs from traumatized males into fertilized wild-type oocytes reproduced the behavioral and metabolic alterations in the resulting offspring.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Dark Adaptation / physiology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Energy Intake / drug effects
  • Energy Intake / physiology
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
  • Male
  • Maternal Deprivation
  • Maze Learning / drug effects
  • Maze Learning / physiology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • MicroRNAs / genetics
  • MicroRNAs / metabolism*
  • Oocytes / drug effects
  • Oocytes / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology
  • RNA, Small Untranslated / administration & dosage
  • Reaction Time / drug effects
  • Reaction Time / physiology
  • Spermatozoa*
  • Stress, Psychological / blood
  • Stress, Psychological / etiology*
  • Stress, Psychological / therapy*

Substances

  • MicroRNAs
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA, Small Untranslated

Associated data

  • GEO/GSE50132