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Leptin levels in human and rodent: Measurement of plasma leptin and ob RNA in obese and weight-reduced subjects

Nature Medicine volume 1, pages 1155–1161 (1995)Cite this article

Abstract

Leptin, the gene product of the obese gene, may play an important role in regulating body weight by signalling the size of the adipose tissue mass. Plasma leptin was found to be highly correlated with body mass index (BMI) in rodents and in 87 lean and obese humans. In humans, there was variability in plasma leptin at each BMI suggesting that there are differences in its secretion rate from fat. Weight loss due to food restriction was associated with a decrease in plasma leptin in samples from mice and obese humans.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. P.A. Kern

    Present address: Associate Chief of Staff, Research, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Little Rock, Arkansas, 72205, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, the Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10021, USA

    M. Maffei, J. Halaas, G.H. Lee, Y. Zhang, H. Fei, S. Kim & J.M. Friedman

  2. Clinical Diabetes and Nutrition Section, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, 4212 North 16th Street, Room 541-A, Phoenix, Arizona, 85016, USA

    E. Ravussin & R.E. Pratley

  3. Brookwood Biomedical ACC ste. 515, 2022 Brookwood Medical Center Drive, Birmingham, Alabama, 35209, USA

    R. Lallone

  4. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, 90048, USA

    S. Ranganathan & P.A. Kern

  5. Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York, 10021, USA

    G.H. Lee, Y. Zhang & J.M. Friedman

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  1. M. Maffei
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  12. J.M. Friedman
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Maffei, M., Halaas, J., Ravussin, E. et al. Leptin levels in human and rodent: Measurement of plasma leptin and ob RNA in obese and weight-reduced subjects. Nat Med 1, 1155–1161 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/nm1195-1155

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