DNA methylation of Vesicular Glutamate Transporters in the mesocorticolimbic brain following early-life stress and adult ethanol exposure—an explorative study

Abstract DNA methylation and gene expression can be altered by early life stress (ELS) and/or ethanol consumption. The present study aimed to investigate whether of the Vesicular Glutamate Transporters ( Vglut ) 1-3 is related previously observed Vglut1-3 transcriptional differences in ventral tegmental area (VTA), nucleus accumbens (Acb), dorsal striatum (dStr) medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) adult rats exposed ELS, modelled maternal separation, voluntary Targeted next-generation bisulfite sequencing was performed identify levels on 61 5′-cytosine-phosphate-guanosine-3′ sites (CpGs) potential regulatory regions Vglut1 , 53 for Vglut2 51 Vglut3 . In VTA, ELS ethanol-drinking associated with Vglut1-2 CpG-specific hypomethylation, whereas bidirectional at single CpGs were alone. Exposure both ethanol, Acb, lower promoter higher intronic methylation; dStr, 26% 43% analyzed CpGs, respectively. mPFC, upon exposure or ethanol. findings suggest signatures drinking, underlying reported mesocorticolimbic brain.