Imprinted genes and the regulation of placental endocrine function: pregnancy and beyond

Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic process responsible for the monoallelic expression of a subset of genes in mammals. Imprinted genes have been demonstrated to play important functions prenatally regulating fetal growth and placental development with some functions persisting beyond pregnancy to influence both metabolism and behaviour in adults. This review focuses on the function of imprinted genes in regulating placental hormones, and the probability that these functions manifest their impact beyond pregnancy