Anterior pituitary leptin expression changes in different reproductive states: In vitro stimulation by gonadotropin-releasing hormone

Noor Akhter, Brandy W. Johnson, Christopher Crane, Mary Iruthayanathan, Yi Hong Zhou, Akihiko Kudo, Gwen V. Childs

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study was designed to learn more about the changes in expression of rat anterior pituitary (AP) leptin during the estrous cycle. QRT-PCR assays of cycling rat AP leptin mRNA showed 2-fold increases from metestrus to diestrus followed by an 86% decrease on the morning of proestrus. Percentages of leptin cells increased in proestrus and pregnancy to 55-60% of AP cells. Dual labeling for leptin proteins and growth hormone (GH) or gonadotropins showed that the rise in leptin protein-bearing cells from diestrus to proestrus was mainly in GH cells. Only 10-20% of leptin cells in male or cycling female rats coexpress gonadotropins. In contrast, 50-73% of leptin cells from pregnant or lactating females coexpress gonadotropins and only 19% coexpress GH, indicating plasticity in the distribution of leptin. Leptin cells expressed GnRH receptors, and estrogen and GnRH together increased the coexpression of leptin mRNA and gonadotropins. GnRH increased cellular leptin proteins three to four times and mRNA 9.8 times in proestrous rats and stimulated leptin secretion in cultures from diestrous, proestrous, and pregnant rats. These regulatory influences, and the high expression of AP leptin during proestrus and pregnancy, suggest a supportive role for leptin during key events involved with reproduction.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)151-166
Number of pages16
JournalJournal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry
Volume55
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2007
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Estrous cycle
  • Gonadotropes
  • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone
  • Immunolabeling
  • In situ hybridization
  • Lactation
  • Leptin
  • Pregnancy
  • QRT-PCR
  • Somatotropes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Anatomy
  • Histology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Anterior pituitary leptin expression changes in different reproductive states: In vitro stimulation by gonadotropin-releasing hormone'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this