Event Abstract Back to Event Epigenetic mechanisms in reproductive toxicity Leda Kovatsi1* and Domniki Fragou1 1 Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Medicine, Greece The field of epigenetics is growing fast and there is increasing evidence that epigenetic mechanisms are involved in the onset of various disease states. Epigenetics involve acquired and inherited changes in the epigenome that can be passed on to future generations, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications. DNA methylation can be either global or in specific gene sites, including imprinted genes. Histone modifications include either methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, ubiquitination and truncation. Epigenetic mechanisms have been closely associated with reproductive toxicity. In utero exposure to various toxicants can alter mainly the DNA methylation pattern bringing about gene silencing through hypermethylation or transcription activation through hypomethylation. Such toxicants include tobacco, lead, endocrine disruptors (vinclozolin, diethylstilbestrol, phytoestrogens, methoxyclor), environmental pollutants (PCBs, methylmercury, environmental oestrogens, acrylamide, di-2-ethylhexyl-pthalate), ethanol, drugs of abuse (cocaine) and azacytidine. Prenatal exposure to the above has been associated with anomalies of the reproductive system, the onset of transgenerational diseases, neurobehavioral disorders, heart diseases and cancer susceptibility. Epigenetic mechanisms are also involved in the onset of various syndromes such as the Beckwith-Wiedemann and Angelman/Prader Willi syndrome in offspring conceived by assisted reproductive technologies (ART). It is concluded that it may either be the process of ART or the parental fertility disorder itself that can cause these epigenetic changes. Epigenetic studies establish a novel mechanism of action, not previously appreciated, on how environmental factors may act on the function of the reproductive system. Elucidation of these phenomena will allow us to better understand the true hazards of environmental toxicants, identify the specific causal agents, and develop appropriate preventative and therapeutic approaches. Keywords: epigenetics, Reproduction, Toxicity Conference: 8th Southeast European Congress on Xenobiotic Metabolism and Toxicity - XEMET 2010, Thessaloniki, Greece, 1 Oct - 5 Oct, 2010. Presentation Type: Invited speaker Topic: Genomics - Proteomics - Metabolomics Citation: Kovatsi L and Fragou D (2010). Epigenetic mechanisms in reproductive toxicity. Front. Pharmacol. Conference Abstract: 8th Southeast European Congress on Xenobiotic Metabolism and Toxicity - XEMET 2010. doi: 10.3389/conf.fphar.2010.60.00150 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 28 Oct 2010; Published Online: 04 Nov 2010. * Correspondence: Dr. Leda Kovatsi, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece, kovatsi@hotmail.com Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Leda Kovatsi Domniki Fragou Google Leda Kovatsi Domniki Fragou Google Scholar Leda Kovatsi Domniki Fragou PubMed Leda Kovatsi Domniki Fragou Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.