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Background: Non‐human primate models of developmental programming by maternal obesity (MO) are needed for translation to human programming outcomes. We present baboon offspring (F1) morphometry, blood cortisol, and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from 0.9 gestation to 0‐2 years. Methods: Control mothers ate chow; MO mothers ate high‐fat high‐energy diet pre‐pregnancy through lactation. Results: Maternal obesity mothers weighed more than controls pre‐pregnancy. Maternal obesity gestational weight gain was lower with no correlation with fetal or placenta weights. At 0.9 gestation, MO and control F1 morphometry and ACTH were similar. MO‐F1 0.9 gestation male cortisol was lower, rising slower from 0‐2 years vs control‐F1. At birth, male MO‐F1 and control‐F1 weights were similar, but growth from 0‐2 years was steeper in MO‐F1; newborn female MO‐F1 weighed more than control‐F1 but growth from 0‐2 years was similar. ACTH did not change in either sex. Conclusions: Maternal obesity produced sexually dimorphic fetal and postnatal growth and hormonal phenotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Most developmental programming studies on maternal nutrient reduction ( MNR) are in altricial rodents whose maternal nutritional burden and offspring developmental trajectory differ from precocial non-human primates and humans. Methods Control ( CTR) baboon mothers ate ad libitum; MNR mothers ate 70% global control diet in pregnancy and lactation. Results We present offspring morphometry, blood cortisol, and adrenocorticotropin ( ACTH) during second half of gestation (G) and first three postnatal years. Moderate MNR produced intrauterine growth restriction ( IUGR). IUGR males (n=43) and females (n=28) were smaller than CTR males (n=50) and females (n=47) in many measurements at many ages. In CTR, fetal ACTH increased 228% and cortisol 48% between 0.65G and 0.9G. IUGR ACTH was elevated at 0.65G and cortisol at 0.9G. 0.9G maternal gestational weight gain, fetal weight, and placenta weight were correlated. Conclusions Moderate IUGR decreased body weight and morphometric measurements at key time points and altered hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated menstrual cycles in intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR, 7‐10 years, n = 8) and age‐matched control (n = 10) baboons. Cycle duration and plasma anti‐Mullerian hormone were similar. IUGR spent more days per cycle swollen and had elevated early morning fasted serum cortisol, suggesting normal fertility in the presence of increased psychosocial stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]