Environmental enrichment induces intergenerational behavioural and
epigenetic effects on fish
Abstract
Parental effects influence offspring phenotypes through pre- and
post-natal routes but little is known about their molecular basis, and
therefore their adaptive significance. Epigenetic modifications, which
control gene expression without changes in the DNA sequence and are
influenced by the environment, may contribute to parental effects.
Taking advantage of the self-fertilising and inbred nature of the
mangrove killifish Kryptolebias marmoratus, we investigated the effects
of the rearing environment on parents and offspring by comparing
neophobia, metabolic rate and brain epigenetic (DNA methylation)
patterns of genetically identical fish reared in enriched or barren
environments. Parental fish reared in enriched environments had lower
cortisol levels, lower metabolic rates and were more active and
neophobic than those reared in barren environments. They also differed
in 1,854 methylated cytosines (DMCs). Offspring activity and neophobia
were determined by the parental environment and we also found evidence
of, limited but significant, parental influence on the DNA methylation
patterns of the offspring. Among the DMCs of the parents, 98 followed
the same methylation patterns in the offspring, three of which were
significantly influenced by parental environments irrespective of their
own rearing environment. Our results suggest that the environment
experienced by the parents influences the behaviour and, to some extent,
brain DNA methylation patterns of the offspring in an
environment-specific manner.