Fetal growth and long-term consequences in animal models of growth retardation

Perturbations of the maternal environment involve an abnormal intrauterine milieu for the developing fetus. The altered fuel supply (depends on substr ate availability, placental transport of nutrients and uteroplacental blood flow) from mother to fetus induces alterations in the development of the f etal endocrine pancreas and adaptations of the fetal metabolism to the alte red intrauterine environment, resulting in intrauterine growth retardation. The alterations induced by maternal diabetes or maternal malnutrition (prot ein-calorie or protein deprivation) have consequences for the offspring, pe rsisting into adulthood and into the next generation. (C) 1998 Elsevier Sci ence Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.