The Agouti Mouse Model: An Epigenetic Biosensor for Nutritional and Environmental Alterations on the Fetal Epigenome

The agouti mouse model was used to study the impact of nutritional and environmental factors on the fetal epigenome. Maternal dietary supplementation with genistein increased DNA methylation in offspring, resulting in a brown coat color and protection against obesity. Exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) decreased DNA methylation, leading to a yellow coat color, but this effect was mitigated by supplementation with methyl donors or genistein. The study demonstrated that simple dietary changes could counteract the negative effects of environmental toxicants on the fetal epigenome, emphasizing the importance of epigenetic mechanisms in environmental risk assessments.