title: Cerebrospinal fluid levels of insulin, leptin, and agouti-related protein in relation to BMI in pregnant women.
abstract: During pregnancy, metabolic interactions must be adapted, though neuroendocrine mechanisms for increased food intake are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to characterize differences in insulin, leptin, and agouti-related protein (AgRP) levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in pregnant women with normal weight (NW) and pregnant women with overweight (OW) or obesity (OB). Placenta as a source for increased peripheral AgRP levels during pregnancy was also investigated.
  
  
  
  Women were recruited at admission for elective cesarean section. Insulin, AgRP, and leptin were measured in serum and CSF from 30 NW, 25 OW, and 21 OB at term. Serum during pregnancy and placenta at term were collected for further AgRP analysis.
  
  
  
  Immunohistology showed placental production of AgRP and serum AgRP levels increased throughout pregnancy. CSF AgRP, leptin, and insulin levels were higher in OW and OB than NW. Serum leptin and insulin levels were higher and AgRP lower in OB than NW.
  
  
  
  High serum AgRP levels might protect from the suppressive effects of leptin during pregnancy. Pregnant women with OB and OW might further be protected from the suppressive effect of leptin by high CSF AgRP levels. Evidence was found, for the first time, of human placental AgRP production mirrored by levels in the circulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gustavsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ulrika
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Andersson Hall
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Aurimantas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pelanis
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ove I
authors.initials: OI
authors.lastname: Karlsson
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Pernilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Svedin
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mallard
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Myntti
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neurochemistry Lab, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Andreasson
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neurochemistry Lab, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden.|UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zetterberg
authors.affiliation: Clinical Neurochemistry Lab, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden.
authors.forename: Kaj
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blennow
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Agneta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holmäng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054369:Agouti-Related Protein / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D050177:Overweight / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015430:Weight Gain
chemical_list: C515198:AGRP protein, human; D054369:Agouti-Related Protein; D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin