Epigenetic regulation of growth factors, such as Igf2 and Bdnf, is altered by developmental alcohol exposure (Boschen et al., 2016; Downing et al., 2011; Haycock and Ramsay, 2009; Laufer et al., 2013) and has been extensively researched in relation to early stress exposure (Blaze et al., 2017; Blaze et al., 2015; Braithwaite et al., 2015; Roth et al., 2009a). Notably, growth factors are linked to the development of neuropsychiatric disorders including depression and schizophrenia. Mental health outcomes are poorer in individuals with prenatal exposure to alcohol or to significant stress, such as famine or childhood maltreatment. Alterations in Pomc methylation status and expression as well as stress-reactivity have been found in models of either alcohol or early stress exposure (Bekdash et al., 2013; Murgatroyd et al., 2009; Todkar et al., 2016); alongside changes in plasticity-related genes, such as Bdnf, these changes could underlie increased prevalence rates for stress-related pathology associated with these types of teratogen exposures (Caldwell et al., 2008).
