The necessity of regional DOHaD centers based on programming/imprinting and embedding-like phenomena

Abstract

A mini-review is presented for the evidence of growth-inhibitory effects of several psychoneurotropic drugs and glucocorticoids on developing animals and humans, together with our own data obtained in experimental models, as well as in epidemiologic studies confirming female predominance in morbidity caused by affective disorders and in consumption of some psychoneurotropic drugs. The emerging concepts of pharmacotoxicologic programming/imprinting and embedding are discussed, justifying the necessity of regional DOHaD centers.