Increasing epidemiological evidence supports the notion that adverse events in fetal life
permanently alter the structure and physiology of the adult offspring, a phenomenon dubbed
'fetal programming'. In particular, low weight or thinness at birth in humans is associated with
an increased risk of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders as well as neuroendocrine
dysfunction in adult life. Glucocorticoid administration during pregnancy is well-documented
to both reduce offspring birth weight and alter the maturation of organs (hence their use to …