Role of leptin in pregnancy: Consequences of maternal obesity

Tessier, Daniel R.; Ferraro, Zachary M.; Gruslin, Andrée

doi:10.1016/j.placenta.2012.11.035

Cited by 159 publications

(140 citation statements)

References 71 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

122

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Leptin secreted by adipose tissue normally feeds back on the hypothalamus to suppress intake, but pregnancy is a state of central leptinresistance. During pregnancy, leptin is secreted in large quantities by the syncytiotrophoblast, regulated in part through human chorionic gonadotropin and 17b-oestradiol [25]. Expression levels correlate closely with maternal serum concentrations, peaking at the end of the second and during the early third trimesters.…”

Section: Endocrine Modulation Of Maternal Metabolismmentioning

confidence: 99%

The placenta: a multifaceted, transient organ

Burton

Fowden

2015

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

541

380

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The placenta is arguably the most important organ of the body, but paradoxically the most poorly understood. During its transient existence, it performs actions that are later taken on by diverse separate organs, including the lungs, liver, gut, kidneys and endocrine glands. Its principal function is to supply the fetus, and in particular, the fetal brain, with oxygen and nutrients. The placenta is structurally adapted to achieve this, possessing a large surface area for exchange and a thin interhaemal membrane separating the maternal and fetal circulations. In addition, it adopts other strategies that are key to facilitating transfer, including remodelling of the maternal uterine arteries that supply the placenta to ensure optimal perfusion. Furthermore, placental hormones have profound effects on maternal metabolism, initially building up her energy reserves and then releasing these to support fetal growth in later pregnancy and lactation post-natally. Bipedalism has posed unique haemodynamic challenges to the placental circulation, as pressure applied to the vena cava by the pregnant uterus may compromise venous return to the heart. These challenges, along with the immune interactions involved in maternal arterial remodelling, may explain complications of pregnancy that are almost unique to the human, including pre-eclampsia. Such complications may represent a trade-off against the provision for a large fetal brain.

show abstract

Section: Endocrine Modulation Of Maternal Metabolismmentioning

confidence: 99%

The placenta: a multifaceted, transient organ

Burton

Fowden

2015

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

541

380

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, whether the suggested purpose of such resistance to leptin during pregnancy is to preferentially transport nutrients and/or promote fetal growth is not fully recognized. Tessier et al (2013) has been reported that leptin resistance in healthy pregnancy seems to be central and beneficial for mobilizing energy stores to support adequate fetal growth. The central leptin resistance may act as a compensatory mechanism to meet the developing fetal energy needs.…”

Section: Correlation Between Leptin Level and Body Weight During Pregnamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The central leptin resistance may act as a compensatory mechanism to meet the developing fetal energy needs. In later stages of a healthy pregnancy, central leptin resistance occurs to allow increased nutrient availability for the fetus (Tessier et al, 2013). These changes are physiologically appropriate, providing increased energy reserves to meet the high metabolic demands of fetal development and lactation.…”

Section: Correlation Between Leptin Level and Body Weight During Pregnamentioning

confidence: 99%

Leptin Gene Expression in Rabbits During Pregnancy and Fetal Life

Kirat¹,

Hamid²,

Mohamed³

et al. 2015

IJB

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Leptin may act as the critical link between adipose tissue and reproduction. Although considerable progress has been achieved in understanding the reproductive actions of leptin, much work is needed for understanding its physiological role. Till now, no data has been published about the distribution and expression levels of leptin in the rabbit maternal adipose tissue, placenta, and various fetal rabbit tissues during pregnancy and postpartum. Our results indicated that circulating leptin levels in rabbit serum during pregnancy were significantly higher than in postpartum and non pregnant rabbits. Furthermore, leptin showed positive correlations with body weight and estrogen and negative correlation with progesterone in pregnant and postpartum rabbits. RT-PCR verified the presence of RNAs encoding leptin in the rabbit maternal perirenal adipose tissue, placenta, and several fetal tissues; including brain, liver, adipose tissue, and bone. The relative abundance of leptin RNA in rabbit maternal adipose was significantly higher at 20 th day of pregnancy than that of non pregnant rabbits, while it was significantly decreased at 2 nd day after parturition. No significant changes in the placental leptin RNA levels were noticed in pregnant rabbits at 10 th , 20 th , and 30 th day of pregnancy. The relative abundance of fetal leptin transcripts at day 30 th of pregnancy was in the order of liver> bone ≥ adipose tissue > brain. The present study provides new evidence for the distribution and expression levels of leptin in the rabbit maternal and fetal tissues during pregnancy and supports the importance of leptin in reproductive physiology and fetal development.

show abstract

“…The intent of this review is to examine the biological role of leptin with emphasis on its actions in female reproduction. The effects of obesity on pregnancy rates and complications, together with the effects on delivery and fetal morbidities and mortality will not be included in this article, and readers should therefore refer to recent reviews on these issues [23,24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of leptin in female reproduction

Pérez-Pérez

Sánchez-Jiménez

Maymó

et al. 2015

Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (CCLM)

125

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:Reproductive function is dependent on energy resources. The role of weight, body composition, fat distribution and the effect of diet have been largely investigated in experimental female animals as well as in women. Any alteration in diet and/or weight may induce abnormalities in timing of sexual maturation and fertility. However, the cellular mechanisms involved in the fine coordination of energy balance and reproduction are largely unknown. The brain and hypothalamic structures receive endocrine and/or metabolic signals providing information on the nutritional status and the degree of fat stores. Adipose tissue acts both as a store of energy and as an active endocrine organ, secreting a large number of biologically important molecules termed adipokines. Adipokines have been shown to be involved in regulation of the reproductive functions. The first adipokine described was leptin. Extensive research over the last 10 years has shown that leptin is not only an adipose tissue-derived messenger of the amount of energy stores to the brain, but also a crucial hormone/cytokine for a number of diverse physiological processes, such as inflammation, angiogenesis, hematopoiesis, immune function, and most importantly, reproduction. Leptin plays an integral role in the normal physiology of the reproductive system with complex interactions at all levels of the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis. In addition, leptin is also produced by placenta, where it plays an important autocrine function. Observational studies have demonstrated that states of leptin excess, deficiency, or resistance can be associated with abnormal reproductive function. This review focuses on the leptin action in female reproduction.

show abstract

Role of leptin in pregnancy: Consequences of maternal obesity

Cited by 159 publications

References 71 publications

The placenta: a multifaceted, transient organ

The placenta: a multifaceted, transient organ

Leptin Gene Expression in Rabbits During Pregnancy and Fetal Life

Role of leptin in female reproduction

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About