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Perinatal overfeeding in rats results in increased levels of plasma leptin but unchanged cerebrospinal leptin in adulthood

International Journal of Obesity volume 31, pages 371–377 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective:

To study the effect of perinatal programming and overfeeding on the hypothalamic control mechanisms of food intake in adult rats.

Design:

Neonatal programming effects on body weight, food intake, central and peripheral leptin levels, hypothalamic neuropeptides, leptin receptors and central leptin responsiveness in adult rats.

Measurements:

Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leptin levels were analyzed using radioimmunoassay. Neuropeptide mRNA levels were analyzed using in situ hybridization. Leptin receptor mRNA levels were analyzed using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.

Results:

Perinatally overfed rats growing up in small litters (SL) maintain their obese and hyperleptinemic phenotype in adulthood. However, leptin levels in CSF are abnormally low considering the plasmatic hyperleptinemia. In contrast to the already reported changes in perinatally overfed juvenile rats, perinatally overfed adult rats did not show any alteration in the expression of leptin receptor isoforms and evaluated neuropeptides. Moreover, SL adult rats showed a normal sensitivity regarding the inhibitory effect of intracerebroventricular leptin administration on food intake.

Conclusion:

Perinatal overfeeding does not induce alterations in either the anorectic response to central leptin administration or expression of leptin receptors and neuropeptides in adulthood. The leptin resistance to peripheral leptin in SL adult rats may be related to impaired leptin transport across the blood–brain barrier.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Luz Casas for her excellent technical assistance and Daniel Lam (University of Cambridge, UK) for his comments and criticisms. This work has been supported by grants from Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias, Spanish Ministry of Health, Xunta de Galicia, DGICYT and European Union (LSHM-CT-2003-503041).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Santiago de Compostela, S Francisco s/n, Santiago de Compostela (A Coruña), Spain

    M López, S Tovar, M J Vázquez, R Nogueiras, L M Seoane, M García, R M Señarís & C Diéguez

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  1. M López
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  2. S Tovar
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Correspondence to C Diéguez.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on International Journal of Obesity website (http://www.nature.com/ijo)

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López, M., Tovar, S., Vázquez, M. et al. Perinatal overfeeding in rats results in increased levels of plasma leptin but unchanged cerebrospinal leptin in adulthood. Int J Obes 31, 371–377 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0803425

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