Because of the complications of diabetes affecting the mothers and their fetus/newborns are
less known, this review examined the epidemiologic and mechanistic issues involved in the
developmental programming of diabetic mothers. This overview showed that sperm, egg,
zygote or blastocyst derived from diabetic parents may develop into offspring with high risk
of any type of diabetes, even if placed in a normal uterus, producing developmental delay,
embryopathy, geno- and cyto-toxicity, teratogenic changes, free radicals and apoptosis.
These early insults may then lead to an increased rate of miscarriage and congenital
anomalies depending on free radicals signaling and cell-death pathways involved by the
diabetogenic agents. Furthermore, sperm, egg, zygote or blastocyst from normal parents will
have an increased risk of diabetes if placed in a diabetic uterus. Interestingly, diabetes has
deleterious effect on male/female reproductive functions and on the development of the
blastocysts/embryos. Indeed, this review hypothesized that the long-term effects of diabetes
during the pregnancy (gestational diabetes) may influence, generally, on the health of
the embryos, newborns (perinatal life) and adulthood. However, there are obvious species
differences between pregnant women and animal models. Thus, maintaining normoglycaemia
during pregnancy may play an important role in a healthy life for the newborns.
Ahmed R. G. | Ahmed R. G. | 2259