Leptin presence in plasma, liver and fat bodies in the lizard Podarcis sicula: Fluctuations throughout the reproductive cycle

Leptin is a 16 kDa peptide produced by adipocytes in response to increasing fat stores and signals to the brain to stop eating and increase energy expenditure. Recent studies point out that the role of leptin is much broader and includes the regulation of reproduction. The lizard, Podarcis sicula, i...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Life sciences (1973) 2001-10, Vol.69 (20), p.2399-2408
Main Authors: Paolucci, M., Rocco, M., Varricchio, E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Blotting, Western
Cross Reactions
Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
Fat Body - metabolism
Guinea Pigs
Leptin
Leptin - analysis
Leptin - metabolism
Liver - metabolism
Lizards - physiology
Mice
Plasma - metabolism
Podarcis sicula
Radioimmunoassay
Recombinant Proteins - analysis
Reproduction
Reproduction - physiology
Reptiles
Seasons
Western blotting
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Leptin is a 16 kDa peptide produced by adipocytes in response to increasing fat stores and signals to the brain to stop eating and increase energy expenditure. Recent studies point out that the role of leptin is much broader and includes the regulation of reproduction. The lizard, Podarcis sicula, is an oviparous species characterized, at this latitude, by a seasonal reproductive cycle. Since in Podarcis sicula the recovery of the gonadal function coincides with the recovery of metabolic activity, we have hypothesized that leptin might be involved in the regulation of the reproductive function in this species. We have identified an immunoreactive band in the plasma of the female of Podarcis sicula, which comigrated with recombinant mouse leptin and cross reacted with polyclonal antibodies against mouse leptin. A RIA method developed by Linco (St. Louis, MO) was utilized to measure leptin concentration in plasma, liver and fat bodies of Podarcis sicula throughout the reproductive cycle. The antibody used in this kit (Linco's Multi-Species Leptin Radioimmunoassay kit) was produced in the guinea pig against human leptin but displays crossreactivity to leptin molecules of many species. The level of leptin in the plasma of Podarcis sicula was in the same range as that of mammals. Leptin levels in plasma, liver and fat bodies fluctuated during the reproductive cycle, in a way consistent with its possible role in reproduction.
ISSN:0024-3205
1879-0631
DOI:10.1016/S0024-3205(01)01326-1