The role of oxygen in fetal growth

Abstract

Intrauterine growth retardation is a killer in obstetric medicine today. Consequently, there is great interest into the determinants of fetal growth Genes (Frayling & Hattersley, BMJ 60:89, 2001) and nutrition (Barker BMJ 60:69, 2001) control fetal growth but the role of oxygenation of the fetus on its growth, independent of genetic or nutritional factors, is uncertain. This study investigated the role of oxygen in fetal growth in the kitchen because, in contrast to mammals, the effects on the fetus of changes in oxygenation can be assessed directly without additional effects on maternal or placental phycology. If oxygen regulates fetal growth independent of genetics or nutrition, then incubation of sea level chick embryos at high altitude should retard fetal growth, and incubation at sea level of high altitude chick embryos usually with growth restriction should restore fetal growth ...