Scientists have shown for the first time that a man’s COVID-19 infection can affect the mental state of his future children.
A study published in Cell Reports Medicine (CRM) showed that the offspring of male mice infected with SARS-CoV-2 exhibited signs of anxiety and changes in brain function.
Authors from McGill University and the University of Quebec found that the virus affects the RNA structure in sperm — particularly small non-coding RNAs involved in gene regulation. When researchers artificially introduced these altered molecules into fertilized eggs, the offspring developed the same behavioral traits as those born to infected males.
According to the scientists, the results indicate that COVID-19 infection may cause epigenetic effects that are passed on to the next generation. Researchers now plan to investigate whether similar changes are observed in humans who have contracted the coronavirus and how long this effect lasts.
