Paternal exercise boosts fitness in male offspring
Researchers at Nanjing University report in Cell Metabolism this week that male mice made to exercise on a treadmill for two weeks sired male offspring with measurably better endurance, a higher proportion of oxidative muscle fibers, and resistance to obesity and diabetes on a high‑fat diet. Sequencing of sperm and fertilized eggs identified 10 elevated microRNAs that target NCoR1, effectively releasing a brake on PGC‑1α–mediated mitochondrial and muscle programs in embryos; the work demonstrates an epigenetic route whereby paternal lifestyle alters offspring physiology in mice.
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📌 Key Facts
- Male mice ran on treadmills for 2 weeks before mating; their male offspring showed longer running endurance and metabolic benefits.
- Sperm and embryo RNA sequencing revealed higher levels of 10 microRNAs that target NCoR1, linking paternal exercise to altered embryonic PGC‑1α signaling.
- Offspring effects included a greater share of oxidative muscle fibers and protection from obesity/diabetes when exposed to a high‑fat diet; study published in Cell Metabolism (reported Monday).