During
the intrauterine life, in particular IGF-I, but also IGF-II, play
an important role in the regulation of nutrient metabolism
(especially in the later stages of pregnancy). Instead, in the
immediate neonatal life they promote the use of energy for
growth and for the final differentiation of various tissues, especially
those of musculo-skeletal and nervous systems, and
their progressive adaptation to extrauterine environment [26].
Moreover, IGF-I is important for some essential functions such
as the increase of protein synthesis and, at the same time, the
limitation of catabolic process [29]. Alterations in the regulation
of nutrients in prenatal life may be responsible for the
onset of short or long-term endocrine-metabolic disorders
such as postnatal insulin resistance, diabetes type 1, obesity
and disorders in puberty [7,30]. This is the pathophysiological
basis for numerous and detailed clinical studies on adults
[31-33]. These studies start to highlight the mechanisms
that are able to establish a link between the various critical
moments of the embryo-fetal development, which are also
represented by a rapid cell proliferation, and the eventual
diseases of postnatal life.