Intrauterine growth restriction and the sex specific programming of leptin and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) mRNA expression in visceral fat in the lamb.

Being born small is associated with an increased risk of visceral obesity and insulin resistance in adult life. We have investigated the effect of IUGR on adipogenic and lipogenic gene expression in visceral fat in the lamb at 3 wk of age. Perirenal fat mass, but not adipocyte size was greater in females than males, independent of birth weight.