Long-term outcomes of prolonged starvation of the fetal body at the stage of its intrauterine development: a review of experimental research

Abstract

A review article deals with long-term outcomes of prolonged starvation of animals at the stage of intrauterine development. The offspring of females who, throughout the entire pregnancy, received a diet deficient in proteins, vitamins and trace elements develop diseases of the kidneys liver, intestines, and the pancreas. Starvation of pregnant mammals changes the metabolic phenotype in their babies with the appearance of the signs characteristic of cardio-metabolic disorders, i.e. obesity, impaired glucose homeostasis, dyslipidemia, vascular dysfunction, and high blood pressure. Not only starvation of the female during pregnancy but also their malnutrition during lactation play an important role for the future health of their offspring. Experiments with protein deficiency in pregnant rats have shown gender-related differences, such as a reduced nephron number found mainly in male animals born to starving females. The data obtained on animal models are indicative that malnutrition of animals during pregnancy results in delayed development of the fetus, changes the expression of biochemical mechanisms associated with endocrinological and metabolic control in the offspring not only of the first generation but of subsequent generations as well. At present, there is experimental evidence that certain effects of intrauterine programming might be reversible. Key words: starvation during pregnancy, intrauterine development, long-term outcomes, developmental programming of disease, experimental research