Animal Models for Small for Gestational Age and Fetal Programing of Adult Disease

Vol. 68, No. 3, 2007

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Animal Models for Small for Gestational Age and Fetal Programing of Adult Disease
Patricia M. Vuguin

Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Horm Res 2007;68:113-123 (DOI: 10.1159/000100545)

Key Words

Intrauterine growth restriction
Small for gestational age
Caloric restriction
Protein restriction
Animal models
Uterine ligation

Abstract

Fetal growth retardation is a fetal adaptation in response to inadequate supply of oxygen and/or nutrients. Animal models of intrauterine growth retardation are an invaluable tool to question the genetic, molecularand cellular events that determine fetal growth and development.Rodent and non-litter bearing animals are mammalian system with similar embryology,anatomy and physiology to humans. Utilization of these systems has led to a greater understanding of the pathophysiology and consequences of intrauterine growth retardation. These observations are comparable to that observed in humans born small for gestational age, and are of interest because of the known association between poor fetal growth and development of adult disease. Allthe experimental manipulations described here have altered a number of metabolic and physiological variables, but the pattern of alterations seems to vary with the procedure and species employed. This review describes animal models for intrauterine growth retardation and assesses their potentials and limitations at aiming to improve strategies for the prevention of adult disease.

Author Contacts

Patricia Vuguin, MD, MSc
Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Children's Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center
111 East 210th Street
Bronx, NY 10476 (USA)
Tel. +1 718 920 4664, Fax +1 718 405 5609, E-Mail vuguin@aecom.yu.edu

Article Information

Received: July 18, 2006
Accepted: January 19, 2007
Published online: March 9, 2007
Number of Print Pages : 11
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 124

Medline Abstract (ID 17351325)

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