title: Increase in serum leptin and uterine leptin receptor messenger RNA levels during pregnancy in rats.
abstract: Pregnancy is a physiological state associated with significant changes in appetite, thermogenesis, and lipid metabolism, functions which are regulated in part by a hormone, leptin, secreted by adipocytes. Leptin has also been shown to have a role in reproduction, promoting centrally-regulated maturation of the reproductive system and signaling the presence of adequate maternal energy stores for fertility. Here we demonstrate that serum leptin levels are modulated during normal rat pregnancy with a 1.8-fold increase during pregnancy followed by a decrease just before parturition. Leptin receptor mRNA levels in the uterus are also regulated with an increase about 2.7-fold during this same period, whereas there is no change in other tissues examined. The results suggest that leptin may play a role during pregnancy, perhaps regulating energy utilization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, 60637, USA.
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rouard
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Phillippe
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Polonsky
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Bell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D020738:Leptin; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D020738:Leptin; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D054411:Receptors, Leptin