Neonatal amygdalae and hippocampi are influenced by genotype and prenatal environment, and reflected in the neonatal DNA methylome.
Title | Neonatal amygdalae and hippocampi are influenced by genotype and prenatal environment, and reflected in the neonatal DNA methylome. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2019 |
Authors | Ong M-L, Tuan TA, Poh J, Teh AL, Chen L, Pan H, MacIsaac JL, Kobor MS, Chong YS, Kwek K, Saw SM, Godfrey KM, Gluckman PD, Fortier MV, Karnani N, Meaney MJ, Qiu A, Holbrook JD |
Journal | Genes Brain Behav |
Pagination | e12576 |
Date Published | 2019 Apr 24 |
ISSN | 1601-183X |
Abstract | The amygdala and hippocampus undergo rapid development in early life. The relative contribution of genetic and environmental factors to the establishment of their developmental trajectories has yet to be examined. We performed imaging on neonates and examined how the observed variation in volume and microstructure of the amygdala and hippocampus varied by genotype, and compared with prenatal maternal mental health and socioeconomic status. Gene × Environment models outcompeted models containing genotype or environment only to best explain the majority of measures but some, especially of the amygdaloid microstructure, were best explained by genotype only. Models including DNA methylation measured in the neonate umbilical cords outcompeted the Gene and Gene × Environment models for the majority of amygdaloid measures and minority of hippocampal measures. This study identified brain region-specific gene networks associated with individual differences in fetal brain development. In particular, genetic and epigenetic variation within CUX1 was highlighted. |
DOI | 10.1111/gbb.12576 |
Alternate Journal | Genes Brain Behav. |
PubMed ID | 31020763 |
Grant List | NMRC/TCR/004-NUS/2008 / / National Medical Research Council / NMRC/TCR/012-NUHS/2014 / / National Medical Research Council / / / NUS Institute of Data Science, Singapore / / / Singapore Ministry of Education / / / Agency for Science Technology and Research (A*STAR) / / / Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences / / / Singapore National Research Foundation / |