Early-life social experience affects offspring DNA methylation and later life stress phenotype
Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Studies in rodents and captive primates suggest that the early-life social environment affects future phenotype, potentially through alterations to DNA methylation. Little is known of these associations in wild animals. In a wild population of spotted hyenas, we test the hypothesis that maternal care during the first year of life and social connectedness during two periods of early development leads to differences in DNA methylation and fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCMs) later in life. Here we report that although maternal care and social connectedness during the den-dependent life stage are not associated with fGCMs, greater social connectedness during the subadult den-independent life stage is associated with lower adult fGCMs. Additionally, more maternal care and social connectedness after den independence correspond with higher global (%CCGG) DNA methylation. We also note differential DNA methylation near 5 genes involved in inflammation, immune response, and aging that may link maternal care with stress phenotype.
Source: Nature Communications
Language: English
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $5,560
Funders: National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation, National Institutes of Health, University of Colorado Denver, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Office of International Science and Engineering, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Colorado Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute
Awards: G1337369762, BEACON: An NSF Center for the Study of Evolution in Action, Environmental Toxicology and Epidemiology Pre- and Post-Doctoral Research T32 Training Program, G2110020552, G2137370039, Peripheral BDZ Receptor - Biomarker of Neurotoxicity, G2783272699, Institutional Career Development Core, DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Early social experience and epigenetic mediation of adult phenotypes, G4890484977, G5543110103, Selection for general intelligence in carnivores by novel environments, IRES: International Research Experience for Students on the Behavioral Ecology and Conservation of African Carnivores, G786247159, LTREB RENEWAL: Fitness consequences of pleiotropic androgen effects in free-living mammals, Michigan Center on Lifestage Environmental Exposures and Disease (M-LEEaD)
OpenAlex ID: W3186966650