Male-transmitted transgenerational effects of the herbicide linuron on DNA methylation profiles in Xenopus tropicalis brain and testis

Xenopus tropicalis frogs (F0) were exposed to environmentally relevant concentration of the herbicide Linuron during larval stage until metamorphosis. F0 frogs showed alterations in secondary sexual characteristics, higher plasma testosterone levels and higher levels of glucocorticoid receptors mRNA in the brain. Exposed males were mated with naïve females to obtain F1 generation and investigate male transmitted multigenerational effects. F1 males showed decreased body size, impaired reproductive system and decreased fertility. F2 males showed increased body weight, alteration in the metabolic system (increased fat body palmitoleic to palmitic acid and decreased plasma glucose levels) and decreased number of germ cell nests per seminiferous tubule. Here, we investigate the male-transmitted transgenerational effects of Linuron exposure on DNA methylation levels of brain and testis of F2 males, using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS)