Grant: Operating Grant

Fetal programming is the phenomenon whereby alterations in the growth and development of the fetus in response to the prenatal environment have long term, irreversible effects. Both insufficient and excessive growth of the fetus adversely affects postnatal development from birth to adulthood. We propose that a newly discovered enzyme located in the stomach of the pregnant mother and of the fetus works as a sensor of both maternal and fetal health and activate the production of a hormone that stimulates fetal growth: ghrelin. We will test the hypothesis that higher activity of this enzyme causes an increase in the weight of the fetus in mice. We will also determine whether the activity of this enzyme increases when the diet of the mother is rich in fat or when the growth of the fetus is compromised. Understanding the determinants of fetal growth is a key step towards optimization of prenatal development and prevention of long term effects of impaired fetal growth such as the development of obesity and its complications.