Prenatal Adverse Environment and Susceptibility to Fetal-Originated Disease

Fetal development is a complex process that is susceptible to physiological and pathological influences. Epidemiological studies have highlighted the impact of adverse prenatal environments, including exogenous and maternal factors, on pregnancy outcomes. These adverse environments can result in developmental toxicity of multiple organs in fetuses and increase the susceptibility of adults to metabolic diseases, neuropsychiatric disorders, reproductive system illnesses, immune-related diseases, and tumors, through the interplay of the mother-placenta-fetus biological unit. This chapter aims to present the adverse pregnancy outcomes resulting from adverse environments during pregnancy, the developmental toxicity of multiple organ systems in offspring, and their long-term consequences. By combining relevant literature and the latest research findings from the authors’ team, this chapter provides a theoretical and experimental basis for understanding the occurrence and development of fetal-originated disease.