title: Follicular fluid leptin concentrations and expression of leptin and leptin receptor in the equine ovary and in vitro-matured oocyte with reference to pubertal development and breeds.
abstract: There is no published information about follicular-fluid leptin concentrations or the presence of leptin and leptin receptor in the equine ovary or oocyte. Three groups of mares - adult draft mares, draft fillies and adult Standardbred mares - were included in the study. Leptin and leptin receptor were detected in all immature oocytes by immunofluorescence with higher intensity in oocytes from draft mares compared with draft fillies and Standardbred mares. After in vitro maturation a higher proportion of oocytes reached metaphase II in draft mares than in draft fillies and Standardbred mares, and in all groups both leptin and leptin receptor became localised in the oocyte cortex but with higher immunopositivity in draft mares compared with draft fillies and Standardbred mares. These intensities were confirmed by the expression profiles of leptin and leptin receptor mRNA. Moreover, leptin was detected in ovarian blood vessels in all three types of animal and within the corpora lutea in adult mares. Serum and follicular-fluid concentrations of leptin were similar in draft and Standardbred mares but higher in draft mares than in draft fillies. This study supports the hypothesis that expression of leptin and leptin receptor mRNA and the rate of maturation can be related either to adiposity or to puberty.
authors.affiliation: Large Animal Hospital, Reproduction Unit, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via dell'Università, 6, Lodi, 26900, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lange-Consiglio
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arrighi
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fiandanese
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pocar
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aralla
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bosi
authors.forename: Vitaliano
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Borromeo
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berrini
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meucci
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Dell'Aquila
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cremonesi
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000662:veterinary; D015571:Follicular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000662:veterinary; D006736:Horses / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D009865:Oocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D010053:Ovary / Q000378:metabolism*; D054411:Receptors, Leptin / Q000378:metabolism*; D012741:Sexual Maturation / Q000502:physiology; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D020738:Leptin; D054411:Receptors, Leptin