Vol 85, No 1 (2014)
ARTICLES
Fetal programming as a cause of chronic diseases in adult life
Agnieszka Seremak-Mrozikiewicz, Magdalena Barlik, Krzysztof Drews
DOI: 10.17772/gp/1689
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Ginekol Pol 2014;85(1).
Vol 85, No 1 (2014)
ARTICLES
Abstract
Long-term adaptive changes occurring in a developing fetus in response to unstable in utero environmental conditions, which appear at a particular time (critical window), are called intrauterine or fetal programming. These adaptive changes are beneficial during the intrauterine period because they adapt the fetus to current needs, but may turn out to be harmful in the end and lead to development of chronic diseases in adult life. Fetal programming means the structural and functional changing of an organism, metabolism and function of some cells, tissues and systems, that occur even despite intrauterine limitations. Events of fetal life influence the determination of physiological patterns which may manifest as disease processes in the adulthood (Barker’s hypothesis). Genetic and environmental factors (poor diet in pregnancy, chronic intrauterine fetal hypoxia, the effects of xenobiotics and drugs, as well as hormonal disorders) influence the phenotype of a newborn and are involved in the intrauterine programming process. The effects of fetal programming may be passed along to the next generations via not fully understood pathways, which probably include epigenetic mechanisms. Most of the mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear and need to be elucidated.
Abstract
Long-term adaptive changes occurring in a developing fetus in response to unstable in utero environmental conditions, which appear at a particular time (critical window), are called intrauterine or fetal programming. These adaptive changes are beneficial during the intrauterine period because they adapt the fetus to current needs, but may turn out to be harmful in the end and lead to development of chronic diseases in adult life. Fetal programming means the structural and functional changing of an organism, metabolism and function of some cells, tissues and systems, that occur even despite intrauterine limitations. Events of fetal life influence the determination of physiological patterns which may manifest as disease processes in the adulthood (Barker’s hypothesis). Genetic and environmental factors (poor diet in pregnancy, chronic intrauterine fetal hypoxia, the effects of xenobiotics and drugs, as well as hormonal disorders) influence the phenotype of a newborn and are involved in the intrauterine programming process. The effects of fetal programming may be passed along to the next generations via not fully understood pathways, which probably include epigenetic mechanisms. Most of the mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear and need to be elucidated.
Keywords
pregnancy, fetal programming, Barkers hypothesis
Title
Fetal programming as a cause of chronic diseases in adult life
Journal
Ginekologia Polska
Issue
Vol 85, No 1 (2014)
Page views
1160
Article views/downloads
5191
DOI
10.17772/gp/1689
Bibliographic record
Ginekol Pol 2014;85(1).
Keywords
pregnancy
fetal programming
Barkers hypothesis
Authors
Agnieszka Seremak-Mrozikiewicz
Magdalena Barlik
Krzysztof Drews
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