Leptin, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), and neuropeptide Y (NPY)in free-ranging pregnant bats

Endocrine
E P WidmaierT H Kunz

Abstract

Leptin, the product of the obese gene first identified in mice, restores fertility in obese mice, and accelerates puberty in mice. We hypothesized that leptin's putative role in reproduction may extend to pregnancy and lactation. Leptin levels were determined in Myotis lucifugus, the little brown bat, a free-ranging mammal with a seasonal breeding cycle. The present study shows that plasma levels of leptin progressively rise during pregnancy, supporting a potential role for leptin in the maintenancy of pregnancy. In contrast, leptin was significantly lower during lactation, a time when most mammals, including bats, demonstrate reduced fertility. In addition to its possible roles in reproduction, leptin appears important in regulation of energy balance. M. lucifugus spontaneously fasts for up to 16 h each day during the active season, which allowed us to test the hypothesis that acute fasting was associated with decreased leptin. Leptin was significantly lower in fasted (lactating) bats, compared to those that recently returned from nightly foraging. Although postprandial lactating bats had a significantly higher fat index than fasted bats, plasma leptin and body fat were not significantly correlated, and were only weakly correl...Continue Reading

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Citations

Oct 27, 2007·Journal of Comparative Physiology. B, Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology·Kristy L TownsendEric P Widmaier
Jul 31, 2012·Journal of Comparative Physiology. B, Biochemical, Systemic, and Environmental Physiology·Eran LevinNoga Kronfeld-Schor
Jan 25, 2007·Reproduction : the Official Journal of the Society for the Study of Fertility·Raj Kamal Srivastava, Amitabh Krishna
Feb 1, 2011·Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology·Raj Kamal Srivastava, Amitabh Krishna
Jan 19, 2008·Journal of Experimental Zoology. Part A, Ecological Genetics and Physiology·Raj Kamal Srivastava, Amitabh Krishna
Feb 18, 2006·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology·Stacey SpanovichRichard L Londraville
Feb 4, 2006·Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part B, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology·Eliana C PinheiroIsis C Kettelhut
Jun 22, 2000·Biology of Reproduction·N Kronfeld-SchorE P Widmaier
Apr 16, 2005·American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology·John A HammondAilsa J Hall
Sep 27, 2000·American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology·N Kronfeld-SchorE P Widmaier
Apr 19, 2003·American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology·Jing ZhaoEric P Widmaier
Feb 10, 2012·American Journal of Physiology. Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology·Delphine VerrierJohn P Y Arnould

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