The Effect of Choline on DNA Methylation in the Hippocampus of the Offspring of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) Mice

The objective of this project is to determine the effects of choline supplementation on DNA methylation in the hippocampus of the offspring from mouse dams with GDM. In this study, female mice were divided into four groups: high fat (HF) feeding (to induce GDM), HF with choline supplementation, normal fat (NF) control and NF with choline supplementation. The experimental groups followed their diets and supplements for 4 weeks before timed mating and throughout gestation. Thereafter, they were fed the NF diet during lactation. After weaning, the offspring were fed the HF diet for 6 weeks before dissection. Brain hippocampus was then dissected for DNA extraction and global DNA methylation analysis. Global DNA methylation was increased in the NF choline supplemented group versus the NF control group (P = 0.056); however, there were no differences between the HF choline versus the HF or NF control groups (P = 0.992). In summary, there was an interaction between maternal HF feeding and choline supplementation in influencing global DNA methylation. Maternal HF feeding eliminated the increase in offspring hippocampal DNA methylation by choline supplementation observed under the NF feeding condition. NIGMS.