Figure 5From: Ancestral exposure to stress epigenetically programs preterm birth risk and adverse maternal and newborn outcomes Ancestral stress alters expression of miRNA and their target genes in the uterus and placenta. (A) Arbitrary maternal uterine miR-200b expression levels across F0, F1 and F2 generations (n = 3). Multigenerational stress in the F1-SS and the F2-SSS generations elevated miR-200b expression levels. Sno202, U6 and 5 s rRNA were used as references. (B) Arbitrary maternal uterine miR-429 expression levels across F0, F1 and F2 generations. Multigenerational stress in the F1 and F2 generations downregulated miR-429 expression. (C) Fold change of placental miR-181a expression in female offspring. Ancestral stress elevated miR-181a expression in female offspring in the F2 generation, but not in F1 animals. (D-F) Arbitrary uterine Stat5b, Zeb1 and Zeb2 mRNA levels across F0, F1 and F2 generations. Stress reduced Stat5b, Zeb1 and Zeb2 gene expression in the F1-SS generation. Reduced Zeb2 gene expression also occurred in the F2-SSS generation (F). GAPDH was used as a reference. Asterisks indicate significances: *P <0.05; **P <0.01, compared to the respective non-stress controls. miRNA, microRNA.Back to article page