Fetal programming of postnatal phenotype and obesity - experimental evidence from biomedical research

STEFAN O. KRECHOWEC, MARK H. VICKERS AND BERNHARD H. BREIER

Liggins Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

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NZSAP 2004 Abstract No. 8 Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production 64: 24-29

The evidence for the fetal origins of adult disease (diabetes,cardiovascular) is reviewed. There is evidence of a disturbed endocrine communication between the hypothalamus, adipose tissue and the endocrine pancreas in the pathogenesis of programming-induced obesity. Hypercaloric nutrition during postnatal life greatly amplifies prenatal effects on metabolic abnormalities, obesity, overeating and diminished exercise behaviour. Fetal programming research offers a novel approach to investigate the mechanistic basis of metabolic disorders.

Keywords: NZSAPAB; fetal programming, appetite, obesity, animal models.

Last Updated 8/07/2004