Determinants of fetal and neonatal growth.
Cellular proliferation and differentiation in the fetus and newborn are influenced by many factors. Increasingly, peptide growth factors are thought to play an important role in cell-to-cell communication during fetal life, promoting cellular proliferation, differentiation, and migration within tissues. Each growth factor may play various roles depending on the time in gestation, the type of receptor expressed by the target tissue, and the presence or absence of other permissive or inhibitory growth factors. In addition, growth factor production is regulated by nutritional factors, encouraging or inhibiting growth depending on the energy and oxygen supply. Although the consequences of fetal exposure to tobacco, caffeine, and other drugs on growth have been well documented, the effect of low-grade maternal immune system activation is less well understood. Postnatally, adequate standards for the growth of premature infants are lacking. Each of these areas is discussed in light of recent publications.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
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Stiles
D002110:Caffeine / Q000009:adverse effects; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development*; D007234:Infant, Premature / Q000254:growth & development*; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011247:Pregnancy; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
D006133:Growth Substances; D002110:Caffeine