title: Glucocorticoids as mediators of developmental programming effects.
abstract: Epidemiological evidence suggests that exposure to an adverse environment in early life is associated with an increased risk of cardio-metabolic and behavioral disorders in adulthood, a phenomenon termed 'early life programming'. One major hypothesis for early life programming is fetal glucocorticoid overexposure. In animal studies, prenatal glucocorticoid excess as a consequence of maternal stress or through exogenous administration to the mother or fetus is associated with programming effects on cardiovascular and metabolic systems and on the brain. These effects can be transmitted to subsequent generations. Studies in humans provide some evidence that prenatal glucocorticoid exposure may exert similar programming effects on glucose/insulin homeostasis, blood pressure and neurodevelopment. The mechanisms by which glucocorticoids mediate these effects are unclear but may include a role for epigenetic modifications. This review discusses the evidence for glucocorticoid programming in animal models and in humans.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology Unit, Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK. kbatbaya@staffmail.ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: Batbayar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Khulan
authors.forename: Amanda J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Drake
mesh_terms: D043209:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000196:embryology; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects*; D005333:Fetus / Q000502:physiology; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007328:Insulin; D043209:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2; D005947:Glucose