Daily Rhythms of Serum Leptin in Ewes: Effects of Feeding, Pregnancy and Lactation

A leptin sandwich ELISA kit unusable for domestic animals

An instance of hormone assay method flaw is reported. In this journal Chronobiology International, two papers appeared in which an ELISA method for human serum or plasma was utilized for blood serum of horse and sheep, respectively. From our testing, it is resulted that such method does not work at all for equine, sheep and other animal species. The use of commercial hormone assay kits for heterologous species always needs a careful validation procedure. First, the same hormone molecule by different species could not share enough homology to be regognized by and react with antibodies utilized in the method. Furthermore, even with a full overlap of the molecules, possible interferences by other components of the sample (matrix effect) have to be considered.

Roles of leptin and resistin in metabolism, reproduction, and leptin resistance

Increased adipose mass can cause insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus. This phenomenon is related to adipocyte-secreted signaling molecules that affect glucose balance, such as fatty acids, adiponectin, leptin, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and resistin. Among these hormones, leptin and resistin play important roles in regulating weight and glucose metabolism. Leptin and resistin work in both similar and opposite ways, and they interact with each other. Circulating concentrations of leptin and resistin are elevated in models of obesity and rodents fed a high-fat diet. In addition, leptin and resistin are similarly regulated by nutritional status: they are reduced by fasting and increased by feeding. This effect is mediated partially through insulin receptors and glucose transporters. Our latest data provided the first indication that in sheep, intravenous infusion of resistin increases the mean circulating concentrations of leptin and decreases luteinizing hormone in a dose-dependent manner during both the long-day (LD) and short-day seasons. Furthermore, exogenous resistin increased suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS)-3 mRNA expression only during the LD season, when the leptin resistance/insensitivity phenomenon was observed in the arcuate nucleus, preoptic area, and anterior pituitary. We concluded that one factor contributing to central leptin resistance is autosuppression, via which leptin and resistin stimulate the expression of SOCS-3, which inhibits leptin signaling. The increased expression of SOCS-3 in response to leptin and resistin may be a pivotal cause of leptin resistance/insensitivity, a pathological situation in obese individuals and a physiological occurrence in sheep during the LD season.

Metabolic and Endocrine Role of Adipose Tissue During Lactation

The adipose tissue serves an essential role for survival and reproduction in mammals, especially females. It serves primarily as an energy storage organ and is directly linked to the reproductive success of mammals. In wild animals, adipose tissue function is linked to seasonality of the food supply to support fetal growth and milk production. Adipose tissue depots in ruminants and non-ruminants can secrete many signal molecules (adipokines) that act as hormones and as pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. The visceral adipose tissue especially appears to be more endocrinologically active than other adipose depots. The endocrine function is important for the overall long-term regulation of energy metabolism and plays an important role in the adaptation to lactation in many mammalian species, including humans. Furthermore, endocrine signals from adipose tissue depots contribute to fertility modulation, immune function, and inflammatory response. Energy homeostasis is modulated by changes in feed intake, insulin sensitivity, and energy expenditure, processes that can be influenced by adipokines in the brain and in peripheral tissues.

Phenomenon of leptin resistance in seasonal animals: the failure of leptin action in the brain

The core of the leptin resistance hypothesis promulgated several years ago to explain obesity as a result of environmental causes consists of 2 tenets: the extinction of leptin-induced intracellular signaling downstream of leptin binding to the long form of the neuronal receptor LTRb in the hypothalamus and the impedance to leptin entry imposed at the blood-brain barrier (BBB). A recent comprehensive investigation concluded that a central leptin insufficiency associated with obesity can be attributed to a decreased efficiency of BBB leptin transport and not to leptin insensitivity within the hypothalamus. Interestingly, anorectic leptin's effects are counteracted in some individuals by a natural resistance associated with hyperleptinemia, which is related to changes in hypothalamic sensitivity to leptin (eg, due to malnutrition, obesity, or seasonal variations due to day-length-dependent reproduction changes). In sheep, it has been observed that the hypothalamus is resistant to leptin in some periods, which is related to the adaptation of these animals to annual changes in energy supply and demand. However, a broad range of ambiguities exists regarding the implications that the intracellular signaling of signal transducer and activator of transcription-2/suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (STAT2/SOCS3) imparts central leptin resistance. Furthermore, several plausible alternative possibilities have been proposed, such as compensatory functional and anatomic reorganizations in the appetite regulating network, rearrangements in the afferent hormonal feedback signaling involved in weight homeostasis, and modifications in leptin transport to the hypothalamus across the BBB. Taken together, these observations suggest that the contention that impaired intracellular signaling downstream of leptin entry into the appetite regulating network expedites environmentally induced obesity remains unsubstantiated and requires further evidence. Furthermore, pregnancy decreases hypothalamic sensitivity to leptin (or other unknown mechanisms), and lactation can also alter the appetite-suppressing central activity of leptin. The objective of this review was to offer an approach to understanding (1) how information regarding nutritional status is transmitted to and interpreted within the hypothalamus in animals, with special attention on seasonally breeding animals and (2) whether central leptin resistance and/or leptin insufficiency in the hypothalamus favors the development of obesity.

Melatonin affects steroidogenesis and delayed ovulation during winter in vespertilionid bat, Scotophilus heathi

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of melatonin in ovarian activity of Scotophilus heathi particularly in reference to changes in steroidogenesis and steroid receptor expression during the anovulatory period of delayed ovulation. Female S. heathi showed an increased circulating melatonin level during the period of delayed ovulation in winter coinciding with the increased androstenedione (A(4)) levels, body fat and ovarian androgen receptor expression. The circulating melatonin level decreased to a low level after winter during the period of ovulation in March which also coincided with the decreased circulating A(4) levels and body fat. The circulating estrogen (E(2)) showed two peaks corresponding with the two waves of follicular development in November and February. Both the isoforms of progesterone receptor (PR), PR-A and PR-B, remained high throughout the follicular development, but expression of PR-A declined significantly during the ovulation. The treatment with melatonin, both in vitro and in vivo, significantly increased progesterone and A(4), but not the estradiol synthesis by the ovaries of S. heathi. The study further suggested that the increased androgens during winter may be primarily due to the stimulatory effect of melatonin on steroidogenic enzyme 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3beta-HSD) activity. Therefore the increased circulating melatonin level in S. heathi during winter delay (inhibits) ovulation through increased androgen synthesis, but suppression of estradiol synthesis.

Early pregnancy alters the metabolic responses to restricted nutrition in sheep

This study investigated whether a 27-day period of nutrition at half-maintenance during early pregnancy (up to Day 14) could alter maternal endocrine responses. Forty-six ewes were fed all or half of their maintenance requirements and slaughtered on Day 14 of the oestrous cycle or pregnancy. We used real time RT-PCR to study gene expression of growth hormone receptor (GHR) and leptin in adipose tissue and GHR, GHR1A and of the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in the liver. Blood profiles of metabolites and metabolic hormones were also determined. Throughout the experiment, underfed animals presented lower body weight and body condition, greater plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and lower plasma concentrations of leptin, compared to adequately fed animals. Undernutrition affected the patterns of gene expression in adipose and hepatic tissues, and the responses differed between pregnant and non-pregnant ewes. In adequately fed ewes, pregnancy up-regulated leptin mRNA expression in adipose tissue, a response that was impaired in underfed ewes. The hepatic expression of IGF-I mRNA was increased by pregnancy in underfed animals while no effect was observed in adequately fed ewes. It remains to be determined whether the changes in the endocrine milieu are paralleled by modifications in uterine gene expression that could alter the environment of the embryo during early pregnancy.

In vitro evidence that leptin suppresses melatonin secretion during long days and stimulates its secretion during short days in seasonal breeding ewes

Recent observations in seasonal-breeding mammals indicate that the hypothalamus is programmed to become leptin resistant during long days (LD) and leptin sensitive during short days (SD). These observations support the possibility that photoperiod mediates at least part of its effects on melatonin secretion through changes in leptin sensitivity. Herein we examined the interaction of season and recombinant ovine leptin (oleptin) on melatonin secretion by pineal explants in short-term culture. Glands were collected after sunset from eight ewes during LD (March, April, May, June) and from an additional eight ewes during SD (September, October, November, December). Glands were transected saggitally and coronally into quarters, with each equilibrated in 2.5ml of DMEM for 120min, followed by a 3h incubation in medium containing either 0 or 50ng/ml of oleptin. Treatment with oleptin reduced (P<0.001) melatonin secretion compared to controls during LD by approximately 22% at 2, 2.5 and 3h of culture. However, in cultures from glands collected during SD, oleptin stimulated (P<0.078) melatonin secretion approximately 50% compared to control. These effects were consistent throughout each respective season. We conclude that the secretion of melatonin from the ovine pineal gland is negatively responsive to leptin during LD, whereas leptin may stimulate melatonin secretion during SD.