Methods of in Vivo and in Vitro Study of Fetal-Originated Disease

Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is intimately associated with the onset of numerous chronic diseases in adulthood. Owing to the difficulties in obtaining clinical biological samples and ethical considerations in medical research, animal models have become the primary means of exploring the phenomena of IUGR-related fetal-originated disease and deciphering their underlying mechanisms. Concurrently, with the swift progress in cellular and molecular biology, developmental biology, and embryology, in vitro research methodologies have also seen substantial advancement and refinement. These in vitro methods can be generally divided into three main systems: cell culture, organ culture, and embryo culture, in addition to the widely utilized zebrafish culture system. This chapter collates and reviews the methodologies for establishing models pertinent to IUGR-associated fetal-originated disease. It clarifies the relevant in vivo and in vitro research methods, providing invaluable insights for experimental studies on diseases originating from the fetus. Moreover, this compilation lays the groundwork for future explorations into the mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets of fetal-originated disease.