A1 Vertaisarvioitu alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä lehdessä
DNA Methylation Associates With Sex‐Specific Effects of Experimentally Increased Yolk Testosterone in Wild Nestlings
Tekijät: Sepers, Bernice; Ruuskanen, Suvi; van Mastrigt, Tjomme; Mateman, A. Christa; van Oers, Kees
Kustantaja: Wiley
Kustannuspaikka: HOBOKEN
Julkaisuvuosi: 2025
Journal: Molecular Ecology
Tietokannassa oleva lehden nimi: Molecular Ecology
Lehden akronyymi: MOL ECOL
Artikkelin numero: e17647
Vuosikerta: 34
Numero: 4
Sivujen määrä: 14
ISSN: 0962-1083
eISSN: 1365-294X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17647
Verkko-osoite: https://doi.org/10.1111/mec.17647
Rinnakkaistallenteen osoite: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/484801097
Maternal hormones can profoundly impact offspring physiology and behaviour in sex-dependent ways. Yet little is known about the molecular mechanisms linking these maternal effects to offspring phenotypes. DNA methylation, an epigenetic mechanism, is suggested to facilitate maternal androgens' effects. To assess whether phenotypic changes induced by maternal androgens associate with DNA methylation changes, we experimentally manipulated yolk testosterone levels in wild great tit eggs (Parus major) and quantified phenotypic and DNA methylation changes in the hatched offspring. While we found no effect on the handing stress response, increased yolk testosterone levels decreased the begging probability, emphasised sex differences in fledging mass, and affected methylation at 763 CpG sites, but always in a sex-specific way. These sites are associated with genes involved in growth, oxidative stress, and reproduction, suggesting sex-specific trade-offs to balance the costs and benefits of exposure to high yolk testosterone levels. Future studies should assess if these effects extend beyond the nestling stage and impact fitness.
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This research was mainly supported by an NWO-ALW open competition grant (ALWOP.314) to K.O. B.S. was supported by a Humboldt Research Fellowship for postdoctoral researchers from the Alexander von Humboldt-Stiftung during part of the work.
