We report reproductive tract extracellular vesicles (EVs) transmit information regarding stress in the paternal environment to sperm, ultimately altering fetal development. Using intracytoplasmic sperm injection, we found that sperm incubated with EVs collected from stress-treated epididymal epithelial cells produced offspring with altered neurodevelopment and adult stress reactivity. Proteomic and transcriptomic assessment of these EVs showed dramatic changes in protein and miRNA content long after stress treatment had ended. SOURCE: Jennifer Chan (jennifer.chan2@mssm.edu) -  Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Pluto Bioinformatics

GSE145051: Reproductive tract extracellular vesicles are sufficient to transmit intergenerational stress and program neurodevelopment