title: Molecular mapping of the neural pathways linking leptin to the neuroendocrine reproductive axis.
abstract: Negative energy balance and insufficient adipose energy stores decrease the production of leptin, thereby diminishing the leptin-supported secretion of GnRH from the hypothalamus and promoting decreased reproductive function. Leptin acts via its receptor (LepRb) to support the neuroendocrine reproductive axis, but the nature and location of the relevant LepRb neurons remain poorly understood. Possibilities include the direct or indirect action of leptin on hypothalamic GnRH neurons, or on kisspeptin (Kiss1) neurons that are major regulators of GnRH neurons. To evaluate these potential mechanisms, we employed immunohistochemical analysis of the female brain from various molecular mouse models and sheep. Our analysis revealed no LepRb in GnRH neurons or in anteroventral periventricular Kiss1 neurons, and very limited (0-6%) colocalization with arcuate nucleus Kiss1 cells, suggesting that leptin does not modulate reproduction by direct action on any of these neural populations. LepRb neurons, primarily in the hypothalamic ventral premammillary nucleus and a subregion of the preoptic area, lie in close contact with GnRH neurons, however. Furthermore, an unidentified population or populations of LepRb neurons lie in close contact with arcuate nucleus and anteroventral periventricular Kiss1 neurons. Taken together, these findings suggest that leptin communicates with the neuroendocrine reproductive axis via multiple populations of LepRb neurons that lie afferent to both Kiss1 and GnRH neurons.
authors.affiliation: Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105, USA. mgmyers@umich.edu
authors.forename: Gwendolyn W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greenwald-Yarnell
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Lique M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Coolen
authors.forename: Michael N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Lehman
authors.forename: Martin G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Myers
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D059648:Kisspeptins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020738:Leptin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000378:metabolism*; D055099:Neuroendocrine Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012098:Reproduction; D012756:Sheep
chemical_list: C491407:Kiss1 protein, mouse; D059648:Kisspeptins; D020738:Leptin; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone