COVID-19 May Cause Changes in Sperm That Lead to Increased Anxiety in Mice Offspring

Florey researchers have shown that SARS-CoV-2 viral infection of a father before conception can alter the brain development and behavior of his offspring, via changes in sperm. Lead researcher Professor Anthony Hannan said the study in mice suggested COVID-19 could have long-term effects on future generations. The results were published in Natural communications.

“We already knew that when male mice were exposed to specific environmental and lifestyle factors, such as poor diet before mating, it could change the brain development and behavior of their offspring,” Professor Hannan said. “This is because the father’s experiences can change the information contained in sperm, including specific RNA molecules, which carry instructions necessary for the development of offspring.”

Working with co-authors Dr. Elizabeth Kleeman, Dr. Carolina Gubert and others, the team wanted to see if the COVID-19 virus would similarly affect sperm RNA and the resulting offspring.

Study first author Dr Kleeman said: “We let male mice recover from SARS-CoV-2 infection for a few weeks before mating with healthy females. We found that the resulting offspring exhibited more anxious behaviors than offspring of uninfected fathers.

All offspring of fathers affected by COVID-19 showed increased anxiety-like behaviors. The female offspring also showed significant changes in specific genetic activity in the hippocampus region of their brains, which is important for anxiety, depression and other affective behaviors.

Dr Gubert, co-senior author, said: “These types of changes in the hippocampus, as well as other brain regions, may contribute to the increased anxiety we observed in offspring, via epigenetic inheritance and impaired brain development. »

Analysis of sperm RNA from infected fathers showed that COVID-19 altered various molecules, including some involved in the regulation of genes known to be important in brain development.

Professor Hannan said the study is the first to show that a father’s infection with SARS-CoV-2 before conception can impact the behavior and brain development of his offspring.

“Although further research is needed, particularly on the sperm and offspring of humans infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, these results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic may have long-term effects on future generations. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding the impacts of this virus and infectious disease, not only on those directly infected, but also on their children who may be affected by their parents’ experience with COVID-19.

“If our findings apply to humans, it could impact millions of children around the world and their families, with major implications for public health.”