Paternal impact on the developmental programming of sexual dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism involves distinct anatomical, physiological, behavioral, and developmental differences between males and females of the same species, influenced by factors prior to conception and during early development. These sex-specific traits contribute to varied phenotypes and individual dis...

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Main Authors: Shefa’ M. Aljabali, Shruta Pai, Raffaele Teperino
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2024.1520783/full
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author Shefa’ M. Aljabali
Shefa’ M. Aljabali
Shruta Pai
Shruta Pai
Raffaele Teperino
Raffaele Teperino
author_facet Shefa’ M. Aljabali
Shefa’ M. Aljabali
Shruta Pai
Shruta Pai
Raffaele Teperino
Raffaele Teperino
author_sort Shefa’ M. Aljabali
collection DOAJ
description Sexual dimorphism involves distinct anatomical, physiological, behavioral, and developmental differences between males and females of the same species, influenced by factors prior to conception and during early development. These sex-specific traits contribute to varied phenotypes and individual disease risks within and across generations and understanding them is essential in mammalian studies. Hormones, sex chromosomes, and imprinted genes drive this dimorphism, with over half of quantitative traits in wildtype mice showing sex-based variation. This review focuses on the impact of paternal non-genetic factors on sexual dimorphism. We synthesize current research on how paternal health before conception affects offspring phenotypes in a sex-specific manner, examining mechanisms such as DNA methylation, paternally imprinted genes, sperm RNA, and seminal plasma. Additionally, we explore how paternal influences indirectly shape offspring through maternal behavior, uterine environment, and placental changes, affecting males and females differently. We propose mechanisms modulating sexual dimorphism during development, underscoring the need for sex-specific documentation in animal studies.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
spelling doaj-art-c0007dcd87584f37a05e5c7a532bc03a2025-08-20T02:36:04ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology2296-634X2024-12-011210.3389/fcell.2024.15207831520783Paternal impact on the developmental programming of sexual dimorphismShefa’ M. Aljabali0Shefa’ M. Aljabali1Shruta Pai2Shruta Pai3Raffaele Teperino4Raffaele Teperino5Institute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Munich GmbH, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, GermanyDZD – German Center for Diabetes Research, Neuherberg, GermanyInstitute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Munich GmbH, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, GermanyDZD – German Center for Diabetes Research, Neuherberg, GermanyInstitute of Experimental Genetics, Helmholtz Munich GmbH, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, GermanyDZD – German Center for Diabetes Research, Neuherberg, GermanySexual dimorphism involves distinct anatomical, physiological, behavioral, and developmental differences between males and females of the same species, influenced by factors prior to conception and during early development. These sex-specific traits contribute to varied phenotypes and individual disease risks within and across generations and understanding them is essential in mammalian studies. Hormones, sex chromosomes, and imprinted genes drive this dimorphism, with over half of quantitative traits in wildtype mice showing sex-based variation. This review focuses on the impact of paternal non-genetic factors on sexual dimorphism. We synthesize current research on how paternal health before conception affects offspring phenotypes in a sex-specific manner, examining mechanisms such as DNA methylation, paternally imprinted genes, sperm RNA, and seminal plasma. Additionally, we explore how paternal influences indirectly shape offspring through maternal behavior, uterine environment, and placental changes, affecting males and females differently. We propose mechanisms modulating sexual dimorphism during development, underscoring the need for sex-specific documentation in animal studies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2024.1520783/fullsexual dimoprhismdevelopmental programingpaternal inheritanceepigeneticssperm RNAsseminal plasma
spellingShingle Shefa’ M. Aljabali
Shefa’ M. Aljabali
Shruta Pai
Shruta Pai
Raffaele Teperino
Raffaele Teperino
Paternal impact on the developmental programming of sexual dimorphism
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
sexual dimoprhism
developmental programing
paternal inheritance
epigenetics
sperm RNAs
seminal plasma
title Paternal impact on the developmental programming of sexual dimorphism
title_full Paternal impact on the developmental programming of sexual dimorphism
title_fullStr Paternal impact on the developmental programming of sexual dimorphism
title_full_unstemmed Paternal impact on the developmental programming of sexual dimorphism
title_short Paternal impact on the developmental programming of sexual dimorphism
title_sort paternal impact on the developmental programming of sexual dimorphism
topic sexual dimoprhism
developmental programing
paternal inheritance
epigenetics
sperm RNAs
seminal plasma
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fcell.2024.1520783/full
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AT raffaeleteperino paternalimpactonthedevelopmentalprogrammingofsexualdimorphism
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