title: The role of ghrelin, leptin and insulin in foetal development.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The growing epidemic of childhood obesity has forced scientists to search for methods to prevent feeding disorders. Increasing interest in appetite regulating hormones has revealed their influence on energy homeostasis after birth or even in utero.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The presence of ghrelin in the stomach of human foetuses and the distinctive production in the pancreas of neonates suggests the role of ghrelin in pre- and post-natal development. The neonatal period appears to be a critical time for the formation of adipose tissue-hypothalamus circuits, thus the amount of adipocytes in foetal life may be a major regulator of food intake. Insulin's orexigenic effect in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus can be a major modulator of foetal development.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This review, based on available literature, aims to analyses the role of appetite regulating hormones in foetal development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Different concentrations of hormones, such as ghrelin, leptin and insulin during foetal life raises the question whether or not they can be modulated, thereby avoiding obesity before birth. Children with pancreas agenesis showed smaller body size at birth, which emphasises the probable role of insulin in foetal growth. Study of sheep foetuses with IUGR confirmed these finding. Appetite-regulating hormones show different roles in foetal development and seem to be essential in the perinatal period.
authors: The Physiology Department of the K. Marcinkowski University of Medical Science in Poznan, Poland.
authors: Magdalena
authors: M
authors: Warchoł
authors: The Physiology Department of the K. Marcinkowski University of Medical Science in Poznan, Poland.
authors: Hanna
authors: H
authors: Krauss
authors: The Mother and Child Health Department of the K. Marcinkowski University of Medical Science in Poznan, Poland.
authors: Małgorzata
authors: M
authors: Wojciechowska
authors: The Mother and Child Health Department of the K. Marcinkowski University of Medical Science in Poznan, Poland.
authors: Tomasz
authors: T
authors: Opala
authors: The Mother and Child Health Department of the K. Marcinkowski University of Medical Science in Poznan, Poland.
authors: Beata
authors: B
authors: Pięta
authors: Department of Allergology and Environmental Hazards, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland.
authors: Wioletta
authors: W
authors: Żukiewicz-Sobczak
authors: The Physiology Department of the K. Marcinkowski University of Medical Science in Poznan, Poland.
authors: Justyna
authors: J
authors: Kupsz
authors: Stanisłw Staszic University of Applied Sciences in Piła, Poland.
authors: Alina
authors: A
authors: Grochowalska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047109:Fetal Development; D054439:Ghrelin / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism*; D009765:Obesity / Q000196:embryology*; D012756:Sheep / Q000196:embryology
chemical_list: D054439:Ghrelin; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin