Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 25, 2026

In Vitro Intraluminal Gel Infusion: An Advanced Approach for Microscopic Analysis of Human Resistance Arteries
06:20

In Vitro Intraluminal Gel Infusion: An Advanced Approach for Microscopic Analysis of Human Resistance Arteries

Published on: August 19, 2025

[Early origins of arterial hypertension and cardiovascular diseases]

Umberto Simeoni1, Isabelle Ligi, Isabelle Grandvuillemin

  • 1Médecine néonatale, Pôle parents-enfants, Hôpital de la Conception, AP-HM et UMR 608, Inserm - 147 bid Baille 13005 Marseille, Aix-Marseille Université. UmbertoSimeoni@ap-hm.fr

Bulletin De L'Academie Nationale De Medecine
|February 2, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Early life environmental exposures can lead to lifelong health issues, including hypertension and obesity. Understanding developmental programming is key to preventing adult diseases through early interventions.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Environmental health
  • Preventive medicine

Context:

  • Most adult mortality causes in industrialized nations originate in early development.
  • The conception-to-infancy period is highly sensitive to environmental factors, causing physiological malprogramming.
  • Perinatal insults are linked to adult conditions like obesity, cancer, and behavioral disorders.

Purpose:

  • To review the mechanisms of early developmental programming of adult diseases, using hypertension as a model.
  • To explore the continuum from normal development to disease, the role of nutrition, and early biomarkers.
  • To highlight the global challenge of developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) in emerging economies.

Summary:

  • Early life insults, particularly impacting the kidney and vasculature, can program long-term health outcomes.
  • Nutritional and epigenetic factors play crucial roles in the developmental origins of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders.
  • Research focuses on early nutritional and lifestyle interventions to mitigate lifelong disease risks.

Impact:

  • Informs strategies for preventing chronic diseases by targeting early life stages.
  • Highlights the importance of DOHaD research in addressing global health challenges.
  • Emphasizes the need for early nutritional and lifestyle interventions for lifelong health and well-being.

Related Concept Videos

Hypertension II: Pathophysiology01:29

Hypertension II: Pathophysiology

Hypertension is a chronic condition in which the blood's force against artery walls is excessively high, posing risks such as heart disease. The condition's underlying mechanisms involve complex interactions among the cardiovascular, kidney, and autonomic nervous systems.Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS): This system significantly influences blood pressure regulation. When blood pressure decreases, the kidneys secrete renin. This enzyme transforms angiotensinogen, a plasma protein,...
Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure01:18

Hypertension and Regulation of Blood Pressure

Hypertension, the most common cardiovascular disease, is diagnosed through repeated measurements of elevated blood pressure. Its risks, including damage to the kidney, heart, and brain, are directly proportional to blood pressure levels. Starting from 115/75 mm Hg, the risk of cardiovascular disease doubles with each increment of 20/10 mm Hg. The diagnosis relies on blood pressure measurements, not on patient symptoms, as hypertension is often asymptomatic until end-organ damage is imminent or...
Hypertension I: Introduction01:28

Hypertension I: Introduction

Hypertension is a widespread, long-term medical condition where blood pressure in the arteries remains elevated. It is characterized by systolic blood pressure readings of 130 mm Hg or above or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) readings of 80 mm Hg or higher. Unmanaged hypertension poses significant health risks, making the distinction between primary (or essential) hypertension and secondary hypertension crucial, as their management and implications vary.Primary HypertensionPrimary hypertension,...
Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:30

Hypertension III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

Hypertension is asymptomatic and also referred to as the "silent killer" until it progresses to a severe stage or causes target organ disease. Patients may experience symptoms stemming from the strain on blood vessels and tissues in various organs or the heart's increased workload.Physical exams might show no abnormalities other than high blood pressure. Signs of vascular damage, when present, correspond to the organs supplied by the affected vessels, leading to target organ damage. For...
Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction01:30

Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): An Overview with Scientific InsightsCoronary Artery Disease (CAD), often referred to as C-A-D, is a prevalent blood vessel disorder classified under the broader category of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a pathological process characterized by the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques are composed of cholesterol, fatty substances, inflammatory cells, calcium, and fibrin, reducing blood flow to...
Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology01:26

Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) originates from a series of events that impair the function of coronary arteries, the blood vessels responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. The pathophysiology of CAD is closely linked to atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory and lipid-driven condition affecting the vascular endothelium.1. Endothelial DamageThe process begins with damage to the vascular endothelium, which serves as a protective barrier between the blood and the vessel...