an inhibitory effect on glucocorticoid signaling, in the placenta (Monk et al., 2016). Further, increased methylation of both genes was linked with reduced fetal coupling (i.e. correlation between fetal movement and heart rate) (Monk et al., 2016). Reduced expression of HSD11B2 resulting from increased DNA methylation could create vulnerability to glucocorticoids in the prenatally stressed fetus which could, in turn, enhance the effects of future stress exposure.
