Effects of leptin on fetal plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol concentrations and the timing of parturition in the sheep
Article
Article Title | Effects of leptin on fetal plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone and cortisol concentrations and the timing of parturition in the sheep |
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ERA Journal ID | 22121 |
Article Category | Article |
Authors | Yuen, B. S. J. (Author), Owens, P. C. (Author), Symonds, M. E. (Author), Keisler, D. H. (Author), McFarlane, J. R. (Author), Kauter, K. G. (Author) and McMillen, I. C. (Author) |
Journal Title | Biology of Reproduction |
Journal Citation | 70 (6), pp. 1650-1657 |
Number of Pages | 8 |
Year | 2004 |
Place of Publication | Madison, WI. United States |
ISSN | 0006-3363 |
1529-7268 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.103.025254 |
Abstract | We investigated whether leptin can suppress the prepartum activation of the fetal hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and delay the timing of parturition in the sheep. First, we investigated the effects of a 4-day intravascular infusion of recombinant ovine leptin (n = 7) or saline (n = 6) on fetal plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and cortisol concentrations, starting from 136 days gestation (i.e., at the onset of the prepartum activation of the fetal HPA axis. The effects of a continuous intrafetal infusion of leptin (n = 7) or saline (n = 5) from 144 days gestation on fetal plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations and the timing of delivery were also determined in a separate study. There was an increase in fetal plasma ACTH (P < 0.01) and cortisol (P < 0.001) concentrations when saline was infused between 136-137 and 140-141 days gestation. Plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations did not rise, however, when leptin was infused during this period of gestation. When leptin was infused after 144 days gestation, there was no effect of a 4- to 5-fold increase in circulating leptin on fetal ACTH concentrations. In contrast, leptin infusion from 144 days gestation suppressed (P < 0.05) fetal plasma cortisol concentrations by around 40% between 90 and 42 h before delivery. There was no difference, however, in the length of gestation between the saline- and leptin-infused groups (saline infused, 150.2 ± 0.5 days; leptin infused, 149.8 ± 1.0 days). In saline-infused fetuses, there was a significant negative relationship between the plasma concentrations of cortisol (y) and leptin (x) between 138 and 146 days gestation (y = 81.4 - 7.7x, r = 0.38, P < 0.005). This study provides evidence for an endocrine negative feedback loop between leptin and the HPA axis in fetal life. |
Keywords | adrenal; cortisol; leptin; pregnancy; animal experiment; corticotropin blood level; delivery; fetus; gestational age; hydrocortisone blood level; hypothalamus hypophysis adrenal system; negative feedback; nonhuman; pregnancy; sheep |
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020 | 310999. Zoology not elsewhere classified |
300303. Animal nutrition | |
300305. Animal reproduction and breeding | |
Public Notes | Files associated with this item cannot be displayed due to copyright restrictions. |
Byline Affiliations | University of Adelaide |
University Hospital Nottingham, United Kingdom | |
University of Missouri, United States | |
University of New England |
https://research.usq.edu.au/item/9zw7q/effects-of-leptin-on-fetal-plasma-adrenocorticotropic-hormone-and-cortisol-concentrations-and-the-timing-of-parturition-in-the-sheep
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