Leptin and its receptors in the course of pregnancy in the rat

  • Authors:
    • Dawid Szczepankiewicz
    • Tatiana Wojciechowicz
    • Przemyslaw Kaczmarek
    • Krzysztof W. Nowak
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 1, 2006     https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.17.1.95
  • Pages: 95-99
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Abstract

Control of processes responsible for food intake and regulation of energy homeostasis during pregnancy is crucial for mother as well as for fetus development. Leptin is one of the main hormonal factors involved in regulation these processes in organisms. During pregnancy leptin regulates mother's energy balance and may also affect fetus growth and development, particularly via receptors in hypothalamus arcuate nuclei (ARC), pituitary and placenta. In the present study, serum leptin levels and expression of both short (ObRs) and long (ObRb) form of leptin receptor in the hypothalamus, pituitary and placenta were measured in the course of pregnancy. The results of these studies indicate that leptin concentration in serum increases during pregnancy and decreases 24 h after the delivery. The expression of both short and long forms of the leptin receptor in the hypothalamus decreases in the course of pregnancy and increases after the delivery. In the pituitary, however, a decrease of leptin receptor mRNA during pregnancy was observed only for ObRb. Analysis of placental leptin receptor expression demonstrated an increase of ObRb and constant high levels of ObRs mRNA. Our results suggest that changes in leptin level and its receptor expression may influence the energy homeostasis during pregnancy. In addition, changes in ObR expression are suggestive for: i) leptin resistance in the hypothalamus and pituitary; and ii) an increased leptin-dependent signaling in the placenta.

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January 2006
Volume 17 Issue 1

Print ISSN: 1107-3756
Online ISSN:1791-244X

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Spandidos Publications style
Szczepankiewicz D, Wojciechowicz T, Kaczmarek P and Nowak KW: Leptin and its receptors in the course of pregnancy in the rat. Int J Mol Med 17: 95-99, 2006
APA
Szczepankiewicz, D., Wojciechowicz, T., Kaczmarek, P., & Nowak, K.W. (2006). Leptin and its receptors in the course of pregnancy in the rat. International Journal of Molecular Medicine, 17, 95-99. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.17.1.95
MLA
Szczepankiewicz, D., Wojciechowicz, T., Kaczmarek, P., Nowak, K. W."Leptin and its receptors in the course of pregnancy in the rat". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 17.1 (2006): 95-99.
Chicago
Szczepankiewicz, D., Wojciechowicz, T., Kaczmarek, P., Nowak, K. W."Leptin and its receptors in the course of pregnancy in the rat". International Journal of Molecular Medicine 17, no. 1 (2006): 95-99. https://doi.org/10.3892/ijmm.17.1.95