title: Ambient temperature, maternal dexamethasone, and postnatal ontogeny of leptin in the neonatal lamb.
abstract: The influence of route of delivery, ambient temperature, maternal dexamethasone treatment, and postnatal age on plasma concentrations of leptin or leptin mRNA abundance in perirenal adipose tissue was examined from 6-h-old lambs, born vaginally or delivered by cesarean section into warm (30 degrees C) or cool (15 degrees C) ambient temperatures, and from cesarean section-delivered lambs whose mothers had been treated with dexamethasone beginning 2 d before parturition. The ontogeny of leptin during the first month of postnatal life was also examined. In lambs born into a cool ambient temperature, but not in those born to dexamethasone-treated mothers, leptin mRNA abundance decreased within 6 h of birth. Plasma concentrations of leptin decreased during the first 6 h of life, an adaptation delayed by cesarean section birth. After the first day of postnatal life, both plasma concentrations of leptin and its mRNA increased to peak at 7 d of age and were positively correlated with each other, as well as with whole-body and perirenal adipose tissue weights. A similar relationship was not observed after 7 d of age, as plasma leptin declined despite an increase in adipose tissue weight. In conclusion, route of delivery, ambient temperature, or maternal dexamethasone therefore delays the rate of leptin disappearance after birth. Concomitantly, leptin abundance was only associated with body and adipose tissue weights for 1 week after birth, which may be coincident with the onset of peak lactation and the time at which nutrient supply should no longer be limiting to the neonate.
authors.affiliation: Academic Division of Child Health, School of Human Development, University Hospital, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, NG7 2UH, UK.
authors.forename: Jayson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bispham
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Budge
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mostyn
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dandrea
authors.forename: Lynne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Duane H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Keisler
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Symonds
authors.forename: Terence
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stephenson
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D002585:Cesarean Section; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012756:Sheep; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D020738:Leptin; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003907:Dexamethasone