title: Effects of estrous cycle and steroid replacement on the expression of leptin and uncoupling proteins in adipose tissue in the rat.
abstract: Among other actions, leptin has been suggested to increase energy expenditure and to modulate the menstrual cycle. In fact, the main effect of leptin seems to be modulating the sympathetic nervous system and gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulsatility. We investigated whether changes in the plasma steroid concentrations during the estrous cycle and after ovariectomy and steroid replacement can modulate plasma leptin levels, adipose tissue leptin mRNA expression, and some of the candidates for mediating energy expenditure (uncoupling proteins (UCP) 1, 2, and 3 mRNA) in white and brown adipose tissue. Rats in estrous cycle or ovariectomized rats with or without estradiol or progesterone replacement therapy for 18 days were studied. Plasma leptin, insulin, estradiol and progesterone were measured with radioimmunoassays. Leptin mRNA expression was measured in subcutaneous, periovarian and mesenteric white adipose tissue and in interscapular brown adipose tissue. Expression of UCP 1, 2, and 3 mRNA in periovarian white and brown adipose tissue was analyzed. Plasma leptin levels were significantly decreased in the estrous (1.1 +/- 0.4 ng/ml) compared with the pro-estrous (1.7 +/- 0.4 ng/ml, F = 3.0, p = 0.046) phase of cycle. UCP1 mRNA levels in brown adipose tissue were more elevated during pro-estrus than during metestrus (F = 3.17, p = 0.039). Gene expressions of leptin, UCP2 or UCP3 mRNA did not change significantly during the cycle. In ovariectomized rats, estradiol and/or progesterone treatment had no effect on plasma leptin levels. Gene expression analysis of leptin and UCP1, 2 and 3 in adipose tissue was not affected by steroid replacement. In conclusion, the estrous cycle appears to have a minor effect on modulation of leptin and uncoupling proteins. Only plasma leptin levels and expression of UCP1 mRNA are modestly elevated during the estrous cycle in the rat. Since estrogen and/or progesterone substitution in ovariectomized rats does not affect circulating leptin concentration or expression of leptin and UCPs in adipose tissue, it is unlikely that steroids play a major role in their regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Luukkaa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Savontaus
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rouru
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Virtanen
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Boss
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Huhtaniemi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koulu
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pesonen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huupponen
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004971:Estrus / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007473:Ion Channels; D020738:Leptin / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D010052:Ovariectomy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014475:Uncoupling Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2; D000071247:Uncoupling Protein 3
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007328:Insulin; D007473:Ion Channels; D020738:Leptin; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D024101:Mitochondrial Proteins; D011506:Proteins; C000604373:Ucp1 protein, rat; C000604391:Ucp2 protein, rat; C000604394:Ucp3 protein, rat; D014475:Uncoupling Agents; D000071256:Uncoupling Protein 1; D000071246:Uncoupling Protein 2; D000071247:Uncoupling Protein 3; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol