Developmental programming and the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis

Dietary Proteins, Developmental Programming, and Potential Implication in Maternal Obesity

Background: Proteins are known mainly based on their metabolic and nutritional functions including protein synthesis and a source of energy. In spite of various physiological properties attributed to proteins, their functions have neither been addressed by assessing quality of proteins nor by nutrition and dietetic practices. Methods: Studies were included if they were randomized animal studies...

Developmental programming and epigenetics.

The ways in which epigenetic modifications fix the effects of early environmental events, ensuring sustained responses to transient stimuli that result in modified gene expression patterns and phenotypes later in life, are a topic of considerable interest. This article focuses on recently discovered mechanisms and calls into question prevailing views about the dynamics, positions, and functions...

Developmental Disorders of the Hypothalamo-Pituitary Axis

Short stature is defined by a height that lies <-2SDS below the mean. Recent molecular advances have led to the identification of the underlying aetiology in a number of cases that were previously believed to be “idiopathic”. This review will briefly discuss the advances in the field of pituitary development and the GH-IGF-1 axis that have led to the unravelling of the genetic basis to a number...

Programming the Myocardium: the Notch-Wnt Axis

Fetal growth and developmental programming.

The environment in utero and in early neonatal life may induce a permanent response in the fetus and the newborn, leading to enhanced susceptibility to later diseases. This review concentrates on the role and mechanisms of events during the antenatal and immediate postnatal period resulting in later life diseases, concentrating on abnormal growth patterns of the fetus. Fetal overgrowth is relat...