The potential beneficial effect of leptin on an experimental model of hyperlipidemia, induced by chronic ethanol treatment.
BACKGROUND
Obesity is known to predispose individuals to liver disease by increasing hepatic sensitivity to endotoxin. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of mouse recombinant leptin on food intake, body weight, hepatic and plasma lipids and lipoproteins in alcohol-induced liver injury.


METHODS
Male Swiss mice weighing 28-32 g were administered ethanol (6.32 g x kg(-1) body weight, p.o.) for the first 30 days. Subsequently, ethanol-fed mice were given intraperitoneal injections of exogenous leptin (230 microg x kg(-1) body weight, i.p.) every alternate day for 15 days. At the end of the total experimental period of 45 days, plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, free fatty acids, triglycerides, lipoprotein lipase and lipoproteins were measured.


RESULTS
Exogenous leptin injections to alcohol-fed mice significantly (P<0.05) inhibited the rise in hepatic and plasma lipid and lipoprotein concentrations as compared with those of the unsupplemented ethanol fed mice. Food intake and average body weight at the end of the experimental period was significantly decreased on leptin administration.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic administration of exogenous mouse recombinant leptin prevents the rise in lipids and lipoprotein concentrations significantly in an animal model of alcohol-induced hyperlipidemia.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Annamalai University, 608 002, Tamil Nadu, Annamalainagar, India.
Vairappan
V
Balasubramaniyan
Namasivayam
N
Nalini
D000284:Administration, Oral; D020751:Alcohol-Induced Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000032:analysis; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D020738:Leptin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000032:analysis
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D015243:Cholesterol, VLDL; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D020738:Leptin; D014280:Triglycerides; D000431:Ethanol; D002784:Cholesterol; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase