title: Effects of leptin on FSH cells in the pituitary gland of Podarcis siculus.
abstract: Leptin is the hormone synthesised by adipocytes, which plays an important role in regulating appetite and metabolism. In mammals, this pleiotropic hormone also plays a key role in controlling gonadotropin secretion by stimulatory hypothalamic and pituitary actions. However, little is known about leptin in lower vertebrates and particularly few studies are available on reptiles. In the present work, we analysed the action of recombinant human leptin on FSH cells in the pituitary gland of Podarcis siculus female lizards exposed to four different concentrations of the hormone. FSH cells showed a dose-dependent reaction. The data are indicative of the role played by leptin in modulating the cellular activity of such cells in the pituitary gland of P. siculus, similar to what was already reported in mammals. A functional receptor is evidently able to respond to leptin in this lizard, but further comparative studies are needed to understand the role of this hormone in ectothermic vertebrates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: ida.ferrandino@unina.it.
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ferrandino
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monaco
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Consiglio
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D008116:Lizards / Q000502:physiology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000502:physiology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone
keywords: FSH cells; Leptin; Pituitary gland; Reptile