Effects of in utero Nutrition Perturbation on Epigenetic Reprogramming in Sperm Cells

Maternal nutrition plays a critical role in offspring's risk of disease and individual's response differs. We used collaborative cross (CC) inbred mouse lines to characterize genetic factors that contribute to individual's response to maternal diet. CC lines carry more genetic and phenotypic diversity so as to better mimic human populations, whereas most traditional inbred lines are restrained to population structure and limited in genetic traits. Reciprocal mating pairs from 20 CC lines were assigned to 3 diets (control, low protein and low vitamin D) 5 wks before mating, and F1 male hybrids were switched to regular chow diet at weaning. Plasma 25-hydroxy vitamin D was quantified to assess vitamin D status upon dietary depletion; its concentration was found to be significantly lower in low vitamin D group compared to control dams, but the same among 8-wk F1 males; the functional relevance will be determined by measuring parathyroid hormone in dams. Plasma total protein and albumin will be quantified to a...