title: Fetal programming of sexual development and reproductive function.
abstract: The recent growth of interest in developmental programming of physiological systems has generally focused on the cardiovascular system (especially hypertension) and predisposition to metabolic dysfunction (mainly obesity and diabetes). However, it is now clear that the full range of altered offspring phenotypes includes impaired reproductive function. In rats, sheep and nonhuman primates, reproductive capacity is altered by challenges experienced during critical periods of development. This review will examine available experimental evidence across commonly studied experimental species for developmental programming of female and male reproductive function throughout an individual's life-course. It is necessary to consider events that occur during fetal development, early neonatal life and prior to and during puberty, during active reproductive life and aging as reproductive performance declines.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México. Electronic address: zamgon@unam.mx.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zambrano
authors.affiliation: HIPAM, Unidad de Medicina Experimental, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)/Hospital General de México, México.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Guzmán
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México.
authors.forename: Guadalupe L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-González
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Durand-Carbajal
authors.affiliation: Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research, Department of Obstetrics, University of Texas Health Sciences Center San Antonio, TX, United States.
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Nathanielsz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D012098:Reproduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids
keywords: 11β-HSD2; 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2; ACTH; AMH; AR; DES; DHT; ER; FSH; Fetal; GR; Glucocorticoids; GnRH; HPA; IUGR; LH; Maternal obesity; Maternal undernutrition; Neonatal; P450 side chain cleavage; P450scc; PR; Sex steroids; StAR; adrenocorticotropic hormone; androgen receptor; antimullerian hormone; diethylstilbestrol; dihydrotestosterone; estrogen receptor; follicle-stimulating hormone; glucocorticoid receptor; gonadotropin-releasing hormone; hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal; intrauterine growth restriction; luteinizing hormone; progesterone receptor; steroid acute regulatory protein