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Title: LEPTIN RECEPTOR MRNA EXPRESSION IN THE BRAIN, PITUITARY AND OTHER TISSUES IN THE PIG

Author
item LIN, J - UGA
item Barb, Claude
item Matteri, Robert
item Kraeling, Robert
item CHEN, X - UGA
item RAMPACEK, G - UGA
item Meinersmann, Richard - Rick

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/1/1999
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: LIN, J., BARB, C.R., MATTERI, R.L., KRAELING, R.R., CHEN, X., RAMPACEK, G.B., MEINERSMANN, R.J. LEPTIN RECEPTOR MRNA EXPRESSION IN THE BRAIN, PITUITARY AND OTHER TISSUES IN THE PIG. NORTHEAST SECTION MEETING OF AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANIMAL SCIENCE. 1999.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Recently, much effort has focused on understanding the role of leptin, the obese gene product secreted by adipocytes, in regulating growth and reproduction in rodents, human and domestic animals. We previously demonstrated that leptin inhibited feed intake and stimulated GH and LH secretion in the pig. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine location of leptin receptors in various tissues of the pig. The leptin receptor has several splice variants in the human and mouse, but the long form receptor (LR) is the major form capable of signal transduction. The LR is expressed primarily in hypothalamus of the human and rodent but has been located in other tissues as well. In the present study, a partial porcine long form leptin receptor cDNA, cloned in our laboratory and specific to the intracellular domain, was used to evaluate the LR mRNA expression by RT-PCR in the brain and other tissues in three 105 day old gilts and 50 day fetus. The LR was expressed in the brain, intestine, muscle, fat, liver and umbilical cord in 50 day fetus. In 105 old gilts, leptin LR was expressed in the hypothalamus, cerebral cortex, amygdala, thalamus, cerebellum, area postrema and pituitary. In addition, LR was also expressed in ovary, uterine body, liver, kidney, pancreas, adrenal gland, lung, intestine, bone marrow, muscle and adipose tissue. However, it was not found in thyroid, thymus or superior vena cava. These results supports the idea that leptin plays a role in regulating numerous physiological functions. Further work is needed to identify these functions.