砷是一种环境内分泌干扰物，宫内砷暴露可以引起子代成年期疾病高发并可能引发跨代遗传。本项目在前期研究基础上，拟从无机砷对印记基因IGF2/H19的调控机制出发，探索宫内砷暴露的跨代遗传效应。本项目将检测CD1小鼠睾丸组织中IGF2/H19基因的甲基化印记状态和表达特征，横向（砷暴露鼠和对照鼠）和纵向(F1、F2、F3)比较IGF2/H19在无机砷跨代遗传发生、发展过程中的印记模式。本项目以期探明IGF2/H19在无机砷跨代遗传效应中的作用及其分子机制，进而为无机砷的跨代遗传效应提供理论依据，并为环境内分泌干扰物在人类后代中引发的疾病研究建立新思路。

Arsenic is an environmental endocrine disruptor. Exposure to this chemical during gestation can lead to an increased frequency of adult onset disease in next generation and probable to induce transgenerational inheritance. On the basis of preliminary studies, the current study was designed to investigate the potential that arsenic promotes epigenetic transgenerational effects via the imprinted genes IGF2/H19. DNA methylation patterns and the expression of IGF2 and H19 in the testis tissue of CD1 mice were analyzed. Since the exposure of a gestating F0 generation female also directly exposes the F1 generation fetus and germ line that will generate the F2 generation, the current study will also investigate the F3 generation which is the first generation without direct exposure. The difference of DNA methylation patterns and expression among the three generations were compared and the epigenetic mechanisms involved in the transgenerational inheritance of arsenic will be studied accordingly. This project will investigate the molecular mechanism involved in the transgenerational inheritance of arsenic and will provide a theoretical basis for transgenerational effects of this chemical. It will also provide new way to investigate the health effects of environmental endocrine disruptors on human offspring.