Periconceptional environment and the developmental origins of disease

摘要: The concept emerging from Professor David Barker’s seminal research on the developmental origins of later-life disease has progressed in many directions since it was first published. One critical question being when during gestation might environment alter programme with such enduring consequences. Here, we review growing consensus clinical and animal that period around conception, embracing gamete maturation early embryogenesis be most vulnerable period. We focus four types environmental exposure shown to modify periconceptional reproduction offspring development health: maternal overnutrition obesity; undernutrition; paternal diet health; assisted reproductive technology. These conditions may act through diverse epigenetic, cellular physiological mechanisms gene expression signalling function conceptus affecting growth metabolism leading increased risk for cardiometabolic neurological later life.