title: Leptin gene expression in the brain and pituitary gland.
abstract: The adipocyte-derived hormone, leptin, and its receptor, are now known to be integral components of a physiological signalling system that regulates fuel stores and energy balance. Constitutive leptin expression has been demonstrated only in adipose tissue, placenta and stomach. We have used RT-PCR to show that leptin mRNA is selectively transcribed in specific areas of rat brain and pituitary, and in a rat glioblastoma cell line. Using immunocytochemistry we have also shown leptin protein immunoreactivity in the corresponding tissues and cells, and confirmed this by Western blot using two epitope-specific antisera. Leptin mRNA expression in the hypothalamus is suppressed by fasting (48hr), suggesting a role for brain leptin in the central regulation of appetite. These data support the hypothesis that central nervous system derived leptin is a likely ligand for central leptin receptors.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Morash
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ur
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D005215:Fasting; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000378:metabolism; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020738:Leptin / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D012333:RNA, Messenger