Endocrine and Metabolic Regulation in Fetal Development Research
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Endocrinology and Metabolism".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2025 | Viewed by 75
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Endocrine–metabolic programming during early development exerts lifelong impacts on health outcomes, yet its regulatory principles across species remain incompletely defined. This Special Issue focuses on resolving the mechanisms of endocrine–metabolic programming from fetal to early neonatal life in human, rodent, and major livestock (pig, sheep, goat, etc.) models. It investigates the molecular, cellular, and physiological regulation of metabolic networks and hormonal signaling in key organs including the brain, heart, liver, skeletal muscle, and adipose tissue. The research addresses genetic and epigenetic regulation of organ-specific metabolism, examines the role of endocrine networks (e.g., placental hormones, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis) in tissue development programming, and explores how interactions between genetic predisposition and maternal nutrition/environmental endocrine disruptors lead to fetal growth abnormalities such as intrauterine growth restriction and low birth weight.
By integrating genomics, metabolomics, and other multi-omics technologies, this Special Issue aims to identify cross-species conserved biomarkers and intervention targets. These efforts will refine developmental programming theories, establish a bidirectional scientific foundation for early prevention of human metabolic disorders and optimization of livestock production, and foster interdisciplinary innovation between biomedicine and sustainable agricultural development.
Dr. Xiaochuan Chen
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- developmental programming
- placenta insufficiency
- maternal nutrition
- epigenetic regulation
- fetal growth abnormalities
- intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
- metabolic disorders
- hormo-nal dysregulation
- developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD)
- multi-omics integra-tion analysis
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