endocrine and paracrine factors, whose action is crucial in the
control of reproductive processes, are involved [3]. Among
these, a crucial role, not only during embryonic development
but also in the course of postnatal life, is played by insulin
and insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), which are considered,
as amply demonstrated in the experimental animal, the most
potent regulators of cell proliferation, apoptosis (especially
programmed apoptosis), oogenesis, embryogenesis and ovarian
secretion (Table 2) [2,3,16]. The role played by serotonin in
the diet of pregnant rats has been shown in recent data from