Early origins of obesity: programming the appetite regulatory system

J Physiol. 2005 May 15;565(Pt 1):9-17. doi: 10.1113/jphysiol.2004.081992. Epub 2005 Feb 10.

Abstract

There is evidence that changes in perinatal nutrition programme the development of relative fat mass and the regulation of appetite in adult life. These studies have been primarily in the rodent utilizing maternal overnutrition or undernutrition imposed at different stages of pregnancy and beyond, mapping of neuropeptide localization and activity and appropriate null mutant models. Whilst the rodent offers significant advantages in terms of a short gestation and the availability of useful transgenic and null mutant models, there are also advantages to using an animal model more akin to the human, in which all components of the 'fat-brain axis' are present before birth, such as the sheep. This review summarizes recent work on the expression and localization of the 'appetite regulatory' peptides in the fetal rodent and sheep hypothalamus and their potential role in the early programming of postnatal appetite and obesity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Appetite*
  • Brain / embryology*
  • Brain / physiopathology*
  • Cardiovascular System / embryology
  • Cardiovascular System / physiopathology
  • Diet
  • Energy Metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Maternal Exposure / adverse effects
  • Metabolic Syndrome / embryology
  • Metabolic Syndrome / etiology
  • Metabolic Syndrome / physiopathology
  • Models, Biological
  • Obesity / embryology*
  • Obesity / etiology
  • Obesity / physiopathology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects*
  • Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena*