INS and fetal growth restriction: It is well-established in rodent models that intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), followed by normal or supranormal nutrition after birth can result in impaired growth of β-cells, a reduction of β-cell mass and insulin content (Pinney et al., 2011; Frantz et al., 2012; Martin-Gronert and Ozanne, 2012) and an increased susceptibility to insulin resistance, visceral obesity, type 2 diabetes and other features of the metabolic syndrome in adulthood (Hales and Barker, 1992; Stocker et al., 2005; Sandovici et al., 2011).