Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been shown to be associated with high risk of diabetes in offspring. In addition to intergenerational transmission (F1 offspring), intrauterine hyperglycemia also has effects on the second generation (F2 offspring). However, the mechanisms involved and the possibilities of transgenerational transmission are still unclear. In a recent study published in Diabetes, we have utilized GDM mouse model to identify hyperglycemic intrauterine environment causing a high risk of diabetes in offspring by altering epigenetic modification. Furthermore, the results indicate that the abnormality of phenotype and imprinted genes expression are more obvious in male offspring than that of female. The changes of epigenetics in sperm may contribute to transgenerational transmission.

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