title: Leptin gene expression in the hypothalamus and pituitary of pregnant pigs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leptin, the 16-kDa peptide hormone product of the ob gene, is a regulatory hormone secreted mainly by adipose tissue. Recent studies have shown leptin production by other tissues, including rat hypothalamus, rat and human pituitary, rat skeletal muscle, kidney and stomach, human and porcine placenta, human mammary epithelial cells as well as endometrial tissues. This hormone is a central modulator of food intake, metabolism and neuroendocrine functions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to detect and locate porcine leptin gene expression in the different areas of the hypothalamus and pituitary on days 14-16 and 30-32 of pregnancy in pigs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Leptin gene expression was analysed by RT-PCR method. PCR products were subjected to sequencing analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Leptin mRNA was expressed in the medial basal hypothalamus, preoptic area, stalk median eminence, anterior pituitary, posterior pituitary and adipose tissue on days 14-16 and 30-32 of pregnancy. Sequence analysis of the 258 bp product from the hypothalamus and pituitary confirmed 99% homology with the corresponding region of porcine leptin cDNA sequence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Leptin mRNA expression in the porcine hypothalamus and pituitary gland implies its paracrine and/or autocrine role in the regulation of hypothalamic-pituitary axis activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-718 Olsztyn-Kortowo 5, Poland.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Smolinska
authors.forename: Jadwiga
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Przala
authors.forename: Tadeusz
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kaminski
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Siawrys
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gajewska
authors.forename: Kazimierz
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kochman
authors.forename: Stanislaw
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okrasa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D017931:DNA Primers; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology*; D020738:Leptin / Q000235:genetics*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D020738:Leptin; D012333:RNA, Messenger