Leptin associations with age, weight, and sex among chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes).
BACKGROUND
Leptin is a hormone secreted primarily by adipocytes, a lipostatic signal to the hypothalamus, and is often correlated with adiposity. Associations between leptin, age, and development are unknown in human's closest evolutionary relative, the common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes).


METHODS
Serum leptin was assessed cross sectionally in association with age, weight, and sex in healthy captive chimpanzee males (n = 47) and females (n = 49) to test hypotheses related to predicted differences in leptin levels with body mass, development, and sexual dimorphism.


RESULTS
Leptin increased with age and weight among females, but not in males. Leptin was overall higher in females compared to males.


CONCLUSIONS
Sex differences in leptin were most evident during adolescence and adulthood, despite similar increases in weight in both sexes indicating that sexual maturation is a key divergence point for differential somatic investment in adiposity and leptin levels between male and female chimpanzees.
Bribiescas
Richard G
RG
Department of Anthropology, Reproductive Ecology Laboratory, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. richard.bribiescas@yale.edu
Anestis
Stephanie F
SF
D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000097:blood*; D012727:Sex Characteristics
D020738:Leptin