Maternal effect influences embryo’s epigenomic and transcriptomic profiles. Mus musculus breed:C57BL/6J

Recent studies have revealed an interaction between a maternal polymorphism in the promoter region of the serotonin transporter (SERT) gene, SLC6A4, and prenatal stress which together increase the risk for children to develop Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Consistent with these findings, a rodent model demonstrated the combined effects of a heterozygous knock-out in the maternal SERT gene and exposure to prenatal stress in offspring that demonstrate ASD-like characteristics including changes in social interaction and social interest. The present study examines the epigenetic changes in the early brain development in mouse embryos exposed to this maternal gene-environment interaction.