Bdnf DNA methylation modifications in the hippocampus and amygdala of male and female rats exposed to different caregiving environments outside the homecage. Issue 8 (21st April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Roth, Tania L.; Matt, Stephanie; Chen, Kenneth; Blaze, Jennifer; Sullivan, Regina M.
• Is Part Of: Developmental psychobiology. Volume 56:Issue 8(2014)
• Page Start: 1755
• Page End: 1763
• Publication Date: 2014-04-21
• Subjects: Psychobiology -- Periodicals; 155
• DOI: 10.1002/dev.21218
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0012-1630

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>ABSTRACT</title> <sec id="dev21218-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <p>We have previously shown in infant rats that brief and repeated experiences with a stressed dam outside the homecage (maltreatment) alters methylation of DNA associated with the <italic>brain‐derived neurotrophic factor</italic> (<italic>bdnf</italic>) gene within the developing and adult prefrontal cortex. BDNF is a key mediator of activity‐dependent processes that have a profound influence on neural development and plasticity. Here we examined whether maltreatment also alters <italic>bdnf</italic> DNA methylation in two additional regions known to be prominently affected by diverse forms of early life adversity in humans‐ the hippocampus and amygdala. We found significant <italic>bdnf</italic> DNA methylation modifications present within the adult hippocampus (dorsal and ventral) and amygdala (central/basolateral complex). We observed that the nature of change differed between sexes, gene locus (<italic>bdnf</italic> I vs. IV), and brain region. Furthermore, a manipulation that did not produce any obvious behavior difference in infants (brief and repeated experiences with a nurturing foster dam) also had long‐term effects on methylation. These data provide further empirical support of DNA methylation modifications as biological consequences of caregiving environments. © 2014 <italic>Wiley Periodicals, Inc</italic>. Dev Psychobiol 56: 1755–1763, 2014.</p> </sec> </abstract>