Chadio S, Kotsampasi B
1 Department of Anatomy and Physiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Animal Science, Agricultural University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
2 Animal Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization-DEMETER, Giannitsa, Greece.
J Dev Orig Health Dis. 2014 Feb;5(1):2-15. doi: 10.1017/S204017441300038X.
Accumulating evidence suggest that the concept of programming can also be applied to reproductive development and function, representing an ever expanding research area. Recently issues such as peri- or even preconceptional nutrition, transgenerational effects and underlying mechanisms have received considerable attention. The present chapter presents the existed evidence and reviews the available data from numerous animal and human studies on the effects of early life nutritional environment on adult reproductive function. Specific outcomes depend on the severity, duration and stage of development when nutritional perturbations are imposed, while sex-specific effects are also manifested. Apart from undernutrition, effects of relative overnutrition as well as the complex interactions between pre- and postnatal nutrition is of high importance, especially in the context of our days obesity epidemic. Mechanisms underlying reproductive programming are yet unclear, but may include a role for epigenetic modifications. Epigenetic modulation of critical genes involved in the control of reproductive function and potential intergenerational effects represent an exciting area of interdisciplinary research toward the development of new nutritional approaches during pre- and postnatal periods to ensure reproductive health in later life.
越来越多的证据表明，编程的概念也可应用于生殖发育和功能，这代表着一个不断扩展的研究领域。最近，诸如围产期甚至孕前营养、跨代效应及其潜在机制等问题受到了相当多的关注。本章介绍了现有的证据，并回顾了众多关于生命早期营养环境对成年生殖功能影响的动物和人体研究的可用数据。具体结果取决于营养扰动发生时发育的严重程度、持续时间和阶段，同时也会表现出性别特异性效应。除了营养不良外，相对营养过剩的影响以及产前和产后营养之间的复杂相互作用也非常重要，尤其是在当今肥胖流行的背景下。生殖编程的潜在机制尚不清楚，但可能包括表观遗传修饰的作用。对参与生殖功能控制的关键基因进行表观遗传调控以及潜在的跨代效应，代表了一个令人兴奋的跨学科研究领域，旨在开发产前和产后新的营养方法，以确保后期生活中的生殖健康。
