Leptin is a metabolic signal to the reproductive system

Leptin, a newly-discovered hormonal product of the obese (ob) gene, is expressed by adipocytes and thought to play a role in the regulation of food intake and metabolism. We tested the hypothesis that leptin signals metabolic information to the reproductive system by examining its effects on the rep...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Endocrinology (Philadelphia) 1996-07, Vol.137 (7), p.3144-3147
Main Authors: Barash, I A, Cheung, C C, Weigle, D S, Ren, H, Kabigting, E B, Kuijper, J L, Clifton, D K, Steiner, R A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adipocytes
Animal models
Animals
Endocrine system
Epithelial cells
Epithelium
Females
Follicle-stimulating hormone
Food intake
Histology
Leptin
Luteinizing hormone
Males
Metabolism
Ovaries
Reproductive system
Seminal vesicle
Serum levels
Uterus
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Summary:Leptin, a newly-discovered hormonal product of the obese (ob) gene, is expressed by adipocytes and thought to play a role in the regulation of food intake and metabolism. We tested the hypothesis that leptin signals metabolic information to the reproductive system by examining its effects on the reproductive system of ob/ob mice, which have a congenital deficiency in leptin and are infertile. We treated pair-fed males and females with leptin (50 microg twice daily, ip) or vehicle (n=10/group) for 14 days, after which the animals were bled and killed. Leptin-treated females had significantly elevated serum levels of LH, increased ovarian and uterine weights, and stimulated aspects of ovarian and uterine histology compared to controls. Leptin-treated males had significantly elevated serum levels of FSH, increased testicular and seminal vesicle weights, greater seminal vesicle epithelial cell height, and elevated sperm counts compared to controls. These results demonstrate that leptin stimulates the reproductive endocrine system in both sexes of ob/ob mice and suggest that leptin may serve as a permissive signal to the reproductive system of normal animals.
ISSN:0013-7227
1945-7170
DOI:10.1210/endo.137.7.8770941