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Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology
Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Research

Identification of differential genomic DNA Methylation in the hypothalamus of pubertal rat using reduced representation Bisulfite sequencing

Authors: Lei Luo, Zhiqiu Yao, Jing Ye, Yuan Tian, Chen Yang, Xiaoxiao Gao, Min Song, Ya Liu, Yunhai Zhang, Yunsheng Li, Xiaorong Zhang, Fugui Fang

Published in: Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

There are many variables affecting the onset of puberty in animals, including genetic, nutritional, and environmental factors. Recent studies suggest that epigenetic regulation, especially DNA methylation, plays a majorrole in the regulation of puberty. However, there have been no reports on DNA methylation of the pubertal genome.

Methods

We investigated DNA methylation in the female rat hypothalamus at prepuberty and puberty using reduced representation bisulfite sequencing technology. The identified genes and signaling pathways exhibiting changes to DNA methylation in pubertal rats were determined by Gene Ontogeny and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis.

Results

The distribution of the three types of methylated C bases in promoter and CpG island (CGI) regions in the hypothalamus was as follows: 87.79% CG, 3.05% CHG, 9.16% CHH for promoters, and 88.35% CG, 3.21% CHG, 88.35% CHH for CGI in prepubertal rats; and 90.78% CG, 2.13% CHG, 7.09% CHH for promoters, and 88.59% CG, 88.59% CHG, 8.35% CHH for CGI in pubertal animals. CG showed the highest percentage of methylation, and was the highest methylation state in CGI. Compared to prepubertal hyoyhalamus samples, we identified ten genes with altered methylation in promoter regions in the pubertal hypothalamus samples, and 43 genes with altered methylation in the CGI. Changes in DNA methylation were found in gonadotropin-releasing hormone signaling pathways, and the oocyte meiosis pathway.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate changes in DNA methylation occur in female rats from prepuberty to puberty suggestng DNA methylation may play a crucial role in the regulation of puberty onset. This study provides essential information for future studies on the role of epigenetics in the regulation of puberty.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Identification of differential genomic DNA Methylation in the hypothalamus of pubertal rat using reduced representation Bisulfite sequencing
Authors
Lei Luo
Zhiqiu Yao
Jing Ye
Yuan Tian
Chen Yang
Xiaoxiao Gao
Min Song
Ya Liu
Yunhai Zhang
Yunsheng Li
Xiaorong Zhang
Fugui Fang
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1477-7827
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-017-0301-2

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