This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mühlhäusler, B. S. Articles by McMillen, I. C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mühlhäusler, B. S. Articles by McMillen, I. C.

Determinants of Fetal Leptin Synthesis, Fat Mass, and Circulating Leptin Concentrations in Well-Nourished Ewes in Late Pregnancy

Departments of Physiology (B.S.M., B.S.J.Y., E.M., P.S., J.K.P., I.C.M.) and Obstetrics and Gynecology (C.T.R.), University of Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia; Academic Division of Child Health, School of Human Development, University Hospital (H.B., M.E.S.), Nottingham, United Kingdom NG7 2UH; and Department of Physiology, University of New England (J.R.M., K.G.K.), New South Wales 2351, Australia

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Prof. I. C. McMillen, Physiology, School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia. E-mail: caroline.mcmillen{at}adelaide.edu.au.

We have investigated the factors regulating leptin synthesis, fat deposition, and circulating leptin concentrations in fetuses of well nourished ewes in late pregnancy. Vascular catheters were surgically inserted in 17 pregnant ewes and their fetuses at 103–120 d gestation (term = 147 ± 3 d). Ewes were fed a diet providing either 100% (control; n = 9) or approximately 155% (well fed; n = 8) of the maintenance energy requirements and fetal perirenal and interscapular fat depots were collected at 139–141 d gestation. There was a significant relationship between the relative mass of fetal unilocular fat and fetal glucose (relative mass of unilocular fat, 1.14; fetal glucose, +0.16; r = 0.50; P < 0.04; n = 17), but not insulin, concentrations in the control and well-fed groups. In contrast to the controls, there was a positive relationship between the relative abundance of leptin mRNA and fetal insulin, but not glucose, concentrations in fetal perirenal adipose tissue in the well-fed group. A moderate increase in maternal nutrition also resulted in a strong reciprocal relationship between uncoupling protein 1 and leptin expression in fetal perirenal adipose tissue in late gestation (well-fed group: uncoupling protein 1 mRNA:18S rRNA, -0.51; leptin mRNA:ß-actin mRNA, +1.53; r = 0.80; P < 0.02; n = 8). These studies provide evidence that fetal glucose and insulin differentially regulate fetal fat deposition and leptin mRNA expression within the fetal perirenal fat depot in the well nourished animal during late gestation.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. M. O'Connor, D. Blache, N. Hoggard, E. Brookes, F. B. P. Wooding, A. L. Fowden, and A. J. Forhead Developmental Control of Plasma Leptin and Adipose Leptin Messenger Ribonucleic Acid in the Ovine Fetus during Late Gestation: Role of Glucocorticoids and Thyroid Hormones Endocrinology, August 1, 2007; 148(8): 3750 - 3757. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. S. Muhlhausler, J. A. Duffield, and I. C. McMillen Increased Maternal Nutrition Stimulates Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor-{gamma}, Adiponectin, and Leptin Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Expression in Adipose Tissue before Birth Endocrinology, February 1, 2007; 148(2): 878 - 885. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I C McMillen, L J Edwards, J Duffield, and B S Muhlhausler Regulation of leptin synthesis and secretion before birth: implications for the early programming of adult obesity. Reproduction, March 1, 2006; 131(3): 415 - 427. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Bispham, D. S. Gardner, M. G. Gnanalingham, T. Stephenson, M. E. Symonds, and H. Budge Maternal Nutritional Programming of Fetal Adipose Tissue Development: Differential Effects on Messenger Ribonucleic Acid Abundance for Uncoupling Proteins and Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated and Prolactin Receptors Endocrinology, September 1, 2005; 146(9): 3943 - 3949. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. C. McMillen, C. L. Adam, and B. S. Muhlhausler Early origins of obesity: programming the appetite regulatory system J. Physiol., May 15, 2005; 565(1): 9 - 17. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. S. Muhlhausler, C. L. Adam, E. M. Marrocco, P. A. Findlay, C. T. Roberts, J. R. McFarlane, K. G. Kauter, and I. C. McMillen Impact of glucose infusion on the structural and functional characteristics of adipose tissue and on hypothalamic gene expression for appetite regulatory neuropeptides in the sheep fetus during late gestation J. Physiol., May 15, 2005; 565(1): 185 - 195. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. C. Mcmillen and J. S. Robinson Developmental Origins of the Metabolic Syndrome: Prediction, Plasticity, and Programming Physiol Rev, April 1, 2005; 85(2): 571 - 633. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. J. Edwards, J. R. McFarlane, K. G. Kauter, and I. C. McMillen Impact of periconceptional nutrition on maternal and fetal leptin and fetal adiposity in singleton and twin pregnancies Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, January 1, 2005; 288(1): R39 - R45. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. L. Kind, C. T. Roberts, A. I. Sohlstrom, A. Katsman, P. M. Clifton, J. S. Robinson, and J. A. Owens Chronic maternal feed restriction impairs growth but increases adiposity of the fetal guinea pig Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, January 1, 2005; 288(1): R119 - R126. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]