Animal models of fetal programming: Focus on chronic maternal stress during pregnancy and neurodevelopment

Abstract

Animal models of fetal programming contribute in three synergistic ways to understanding and treating human diseases or predispositions to diseases, which emerge from in utero insults leading to fetal programming. Firstly, animal models serve to confirm observationsderived in epidemiological studies. Secondly, animal models provide insights into mechanisms and render novel putative biomarkers of various effects of fetal programming that are relevant for early identification of affected individuals, children and adults. Thirdly, animal models permit testing of therapeutic interventions before they are translated into clinical intervention studies.