Genome-wide DNA methylation alteration in prenatally stressed Brahman heifer calves with the advancement of age

Possible phenotypic impairments associated with maternal stress during gestation in beef cattle may be explained by epigenetic effects. This study examined the impact of prenatal transportation stress on DNA methylation of lymphocytes of Brahman cows over the first 5 years of life. Methylation analysis through reduced representation bisulphite sequencing was conducted on DNA from lymphocytes from 28 paired samples from 6 prenatally stressed (PNS) and 8 control (Control) females obtained initially when they were 28 days of age and 5 years of age. There were 14,386 CpG (C = cytosine; p = phosphate; G = guanine) sites differentially methylated (<i>P</i> P