Influence of early life events on health and diseases.
The transition from the fetal to the extrauterine environment is associated with complex physiological adjustments and involves numerous cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic adjustments to ensure successful adaptation to the postnatal life. While such changes are in response to the altered environment in which the newborn finds itself, external changes affecting the fetal environment could impact the integrity of these mechanisms and increase susceptibility to diseases later in life. The present article reviews some of the mechanisms involved in the transition from fetal to postnatal life and focuses of how our health as adults is dependent on the conditions we experienced in-utero.
Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
Jean E
JE
Robillard
Jeffrey L
JL
Segar
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001724:Birth Weight; D004194:Disease / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000502:physiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology
D005938:Glucocorticoids