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Placental control of fetal growth
journal contribution
posted on 1995-01-01, 00:00 authored by J Robinson, S Chidzanja, K Kind, F Lok, P Owens, Julie OwensJulie OwensThe placenta exerts its effects on the growth of the fetus from the beginning of pregnancy via metabolic and endocrine mechanisms. To achieve this, the placenta exchanges a wide array of nutrients, endocrine signals, cytokines and growth factors with the mother and the fetus. These exchanges modulate or programme fetal growth and development. This review concentrates on the function and structure of the placenta in humans and in animals, and the effects of experimental perturbation of placental size and function on fetal growth. The consequences for fetal growth of varying the abundance of peptides or, by deleting genes, insulin-like growth factors or cytokines, are also described. Maternal nutritional and hormonal state from as early as the first few days after fertilization, can influence the growth rate of the placenta and the fetus and also the length of gestation. Influences on placental development and their consequences will clearly have an impact on the placental control of fetal growth. Variations in the maternal environment and consequent perturbation of the metabolic and endocrine environment of the placenta and fetus are implicated as being responsible for the associations between prenatal growth of the placenta and its fetus and the subsequent risk of adult disease. The next challenge will be to determine the dominant influences at each stage of fetal and placental growth.
History
Journal
Reproduction, fertility and developmentVolume
7Issue
3Pagination
333 - 344Publisher
CSIRO PublishingLocation
Clayton, Vic.Publisher DOI
ISSN
1031-3613Language
engPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
1995, CSIROUsage metrics
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AnimalsBody ConstitutionChromosome AberrationsCytokinesEmbryonic and Fetal DevelopmentFemaleGrowth SubstancesHumansNutritional Physiological PhenomenaPlacentaPregnancyScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineDevelopmental BiologyReproductive BiologyZoologyLEUKEMIA INHIBITORY FACTORFLOW VELOCITY WAVEFORMSEARLY-PREGNANCYFACTOR-IBLOOD-PRESSUREBLASTOCYST IMPLANTATIONMAMMALIAN DEVELOPMENTUNIPARENTAL DISOMYSTIMULATES GROWTHBINDING-PROTEINS
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