Prenatal imprinting of postnatal specific appetites and feeding behavior
Introduction
Epigenetic influences imported from the maternal “universe” during fetal life superimpose changes in the genetic templates of the offspring—changes that affect their subsequent feeding behavior, specific appetites, and metabolism. Indeed, a number of studies, both in humans and laboratory animals, demonstrate that such prenatal changes can be considered to have been “imprinted” or “programmed.” By modifying brain properties and organ structure, such imprinting can bring about permanent alterations in the regulatory mechanisms of the offspring.
This article is concerned with the prenatal imprinting that affects specific appetites and/or feeding in general during the later life of the offspring.
Section snippets
Salt appetite
The most important and best understood of specific appetites is sodium chloride (NaCl) or salt appetite, also referred to as salt hunger or natriophilia. Salt appetite leads to a strong drive to seek and consume salt from a variety of sources and allows herbivores and omnivores to offset both their usual and unusual losses of NaCl via the urine, feces, and skin [1]. Sodium appetite increases in response to hypovolemic and hypoosmotic deficits. When these deficits recur, excessive salt hunger
Conclusion
From the evolutionary standpoint, we can see a clear biological framework that allows us to understand the important role played by the prenatal environment in promoting both successful reproduction and the health of subsequent populations. However, we have to distinguish among the many fetal adaptations that occur in response to environmental changes so that we can identify those that (a) confer an immediate adaptive benefit but have no functional consequences in the postnatal period beyond
Acknowledgment
The author thanks Theodore B VanItallie, MD, for his helpful editorial comments.
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STATEMENT OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The author is a member of the Scientific Committee of the Collège International de Recherche Servier (CIRS).
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Formerly at: Centre National de Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) of the Collège de France, Paris 5, France.