EUPEAH: Glucocorticoid Hormone Programming in Early Life and its Impact on Adult Health

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 02.0440

Key words (English)

Life Sciences; Scientific Research

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: QLRI-CT-2002-02758

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.1.9 Support for research infrastructures

Short description (English)

See abstract

Abstract (English)

Low birth weight in humans is associated with increased risk of hypertension, diabetes or affective disorders in later life. Excessive foetal exposure to gluco corticoids (GCs) retards organism growth, as GCs exert prenatal programming in a variety of target tissues. Whilst many researchers have argued on the basis of conventional animal models to explain the links between prenatal GC exposure and the commonest human disorders, none has shown strict relevance to humans. To elucidate the mechanisms in a primate model, we propose extending the studies in rats to marmoset monkeys. The animals will be treated prenatal with GCs, studying the impact upon potential adverse metabolic programming, reproductive and immune function, HPA axis activity, brain function and morphology and behaviour. Understanding how such prenatal programming works provides prospects for disease prevention and health promotion.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 02.0440