Embryology is normally a killer word for a lecture at medical school, dropping attendance down from the usual 8% to something embarrassingly low. This said, if done right, it can provide fascinating insight into the underlying themes of physiology and pathophysiology in almost every speciality.
One of the most obvious areas is cardiology, where the subject is a contorted, asymmetrical knot of the few remaining vessels from what was an organised, symmetrical network in early pregnancy. The paper "Fetal origins of coronary heart disease" takes the focus away from the obvious structural and pressure-related discussions we learn about the heart at birth, and looks at
metabolic disease in a much more exciting way to usual. The paper is an oldie (1995) but is still a goldie.
The paper: "Diet, Nutrition and Modulation of Genomic Expression in Fetal Origins of Adult Disease" approaches the
fetal origins hypothesis as an epigenetic problem.
PPAR-gamma genes' role in diabetes is discussed in the context of their activation in utero, and animal models show different gene expressions under metabolic fetal stress.
Hypomethylation, a process implicated in the smoking related damage to the fetus, here explains how
Folic acid reverses the effects of maternal diets and also changes the behaviour of several genes to a separate epigenotype. Outcomes of fetal gene switching as diverse as
Cancer, Liver function, Renal function, Stunted growth and even
Psychological disorders.
As per that questionable adage of the embryology lecturer: "Embryology will help you understand other areas".
The Old Paper:
Fetal Origins of Coronary Heart Disease
The New Paper:
Diet, Nutrition and Modulation of Genomic Expression in Fetal Origins of Adult Disease
Good Learning!
