Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42213526›Full record

ArticleEndocrine connections2026

Maternal methyl-donor supplementation and hypothalamic methylation stability.

Thomas Gerhard Brune, Bettina Schloesser, Marianne Volleth, Martin Zenker

Abstract read
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Article in Endocrine connections, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Thomas Gerhard BruneUniversity Hospital Magdeburg, Department of Pediatrics , Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.ORCID 0000-0003-1822-9316
Bettina SchloesserKlinikum Lippe Detmold, Department of Pediatrics , Detmold, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
Marianne VollethUniversity Hospital Magdeburg, Institute for Human Genetics , Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.
Martin ZenkerUniversity Hospital Magdeburg, Institute for Human Genetics , Magdeburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMaternal nutrition can shape fetal epigenetic programming with long-term health effects. This study tested whether central and peripheral tissues differ in responsiveness to maternal methyl-donor supplementation.

methodsC57BL/6 dams received either standard chow (control) or a methyl-donor-enriched diet during pregnancy. Offspring were allocated to three groups: i) control (mother and offspring on standard chow), ii) prenatal exposure (mother on methyl-donor diet during pregnancy, offspring on standard chow thereafter), and iii) combined exposure (mother on methyl-donor diet during pregnancy and lactation, offspring continued methyl-donor diet postnatally). Global DNA methylation was measured by ELISA in the brain and hypothalamus (n = 10) and in the liver, spleen, and heart (n = 5). Exploratory hypothalamic gene expression analysis compared the prenatal exposure group vs controls (n = 4).

resultsPrenatal supplementation was associated with increased global 5-methylcytosine levels in the brain and hypothalamus (both P < 0.01). In the hypothalamus, this elevation persisted irrespective of later diet, whereas peripheral organs displayed ongoing plasticity and responded strongly to postnatal exposure. Microarray analysis identified 36 differentially expressed hypothalamic transcripts, including genes previously linked to methylation-related pathways.

conclusionMaternal methyl-donor supplementation is associated with a stable hypothalamic methylation profile established during intrauterine life, while peripheral organs remain epigenetically adaptable. These findings reveal an organ-specific divergence in developmental programming, with exploratory gene expression suggesting functional consequences.

Indexed as

DNA methylationepigenetic programminghypothalamusnutritionone-carbon metabolism

Identifiers

PMID42213526
PMCPMC13383234

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