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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Miguel Velazquez
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
The concept emerging from Professor David Barker’s seminal research on the developmental 21 origins of later life disease has progressed in many directions since first published. One critical 22 question is when during gestation might environment alter the developmental programme with such 23 enduring consequences. Here, we review the growing consensus from clinical and animal research 24 that the period around conception, embracing gamete maturation and early embryogenesis, might be 25 the most vulnerable period. We focus on four types of environmental exposure shown to modify 26 periconceptional reproduction and offspring development and health: maternal overnutrition and 27 obesity; maternal undernutrition; paternal diet and health; and assisted reproductive technology. 28 These conditions may act through diverse epigenetic, cellular and physiological mechanisms to alter 29 gene expression and cellular signalling and function in the conceptus affecting offspring growth and 30 metabolism and leading to increased risk for cardiometabolic and neurological disease in later life.
Author(s): Velazquez MA, Fleming TP, Watkins AJ
Publication type: Review
Publication status: Published
Journal: Journal of Endocrinology
Year: 2019
Volume: 242
Issue: 1
Pages: T33-T49
Print publication date: 01/07/2019
Online publication date: 01/02/2019
Acceptance date: 01/02/2019
ISSN (print): 0022-0795
ISSN (electronic): 1479-6805
URL: https://doi.org/10.1530/JOE-18-0676
DOI: 10.1530/JOE-18-0676
PubMed id: 30707679
