Developmental Dieldrin Exposure Alters DNA Methylation at Genes Related to Dopaminergic Neuron Development and Parkinson’s Disease in Mouse Midbrain

Human and animal studies have shown that exposure to the organochlorine pesticide dieldrin is associated with increased risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Despite previous work showing a link between developmental dieldrin exposure and increased neuronal susceptibility to MPTP toxicity in male C57BL/6 mice, the mechanism mediating this effect has not been identified. Here, we tested the hypothesis that developmental exposure to dieldrin increases neuronal susceptibility via genome-wide changes in DNA methylation. Starting at 8 weeks of age and prior to mating, female C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 0.3 mg/kg dieldrin by feeding (every 3 days) throughout breeding, gestation, and lactation. At 12 weeks of age, pups were sacrificed and midbrains were dissected. DNA was isolated and dieldrin-related changes in DNA methylation were assessed via reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS). We identified significant, sex-specific differentially methylated CpGs (DMCs) and regions (DMRs) by developmental dieldrin exposure (FDR<0.05), including DMCs at the Nr4a2 and Lmx1b genes, which are involved in dopaminergic neuron development and maintenance. Developmental dieldrin exposure had distinct effects on the male and female epigenome. Furthermore, a separate set of changes in DNA methylation was identified after adult exposure to dieldrin, suggesting that adult and developmental dieldrin toxicity may not act through a shared epigenetic mechanism. Together, our data suggest that developmental dieldrin exposure establishes sex-specific poised epigenetic states early in life. These poised epigenomes may mediate sensitivity to additional environmental stimuli and contribute to the development of late-life neurodegenerative disease, including PD.