Figure 6.

Diagram illustrating potential epigenetic mechanisms by which ancestral stress may regulate neuromorphology and mental health. In pathway #1 ancestral stress alters expression of miR-221 and miR-26. Upregulated mir-26 results in downregulated ntrk2 and map1a expression which ultimately reduces neuronal complexity and adaptive stress response. In pathway #2 ancestral stress alters crh mRNA expression in frontal cortex that leads to HPA axis impairment with blunted corticosterone levels, as found in PTSD. This ultimately alters neuronal morphology and stress system as hallmarks of mental health.