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Metabolic programming of lipid profile and reproductive organs weight by leptin treatment on early life
Durval Santos Marques1, Flávia Meireles Gombar, Jorge Luiz Alves Pereira
1Urogenital Research Unit, UERJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Insights
Neonatal leptin treatment in rats significantly altered body weight, food intake, and lipid profiles. This early-life intervention programmed reduced reproductive organ weight and lower triglyceride levels in male offspring.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Reproductive Biology
- Metabolic Research
Background:
- Leptin is a key hormone regulating energy balance and metabolism.
- Neonatal development is a critical window for programming long-term health outcomes.
- The impact of early-life leptin exposure on male reproductive health and lipid metabolism requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of neonatal leptin administration on male reproductive organ weight.
- To assess the influence of early-life leptin exposure on the lipid profile of male offspring.
- To determine if neonatal leptin treatment can program metabolic and reproductive parameters.
Main Methods:
- Rat pups received subcutaneous injections of recombinant rat leptin or saline during the first 10 days of life.
- Following weaning, all animals had ad libitum access to food until 190 days of age.
- Body weight, food consumption, lipid profiles, and reproductive organ weights were analyzed using Student's t-test.
Main Results:
- Leptin-treated rats exhibited significantly increased body weight and food consumption compared to controls.
- Triglyceride levels were significantly reduced in the leptin-treated group.
- Significant reductions in the weights of the hypothalamus, pituitary, testes, and prostate were observed in leptin-treated males.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal leptin treatment can program the reproductive organ weight in male rats.
- Early-life leptin exposure influences the lipid profile of the progeny.
- This study highlights the potential for neonatal hormonal interventions to shape long-term metabolic and reproductive health.
Purpose:
To evaluate whether the neonatal leptin treatment during the first days of life can program the male reproductive organs weight and the lipid profile.
Methods:
At birth 6 dams were divided into 2 groups: Leptin - each pup was injected with 50microL of recombinant rat leptin (80ng/g BW, sc), for the first 10 d of lactation; Control - each pup received the same volume of saline. After weaning, all pups received unlimited access to food until 190 days of age when they were killed. Values are given as mean + or - SEM of 6 animals and Test t Student was used to analyze the results.
Results:
The leptin treatment resulted in a significant increase in body weight (Control= 411.8 + or - 16.31; Leptin= 481.8 + or - 11.29, p=0.005) and food consumption (Control= 25.32 + or - 0.09; Leptin= 32.42 + or - 0.15, p=0.0001) and a significant reduction in triglycerides levels (Control= 540.0 + or - 117.9; Leptin= 93.25 + or - 15.21, p=0.006) and in the weight of hypothalamus (Control= 0.234 + or - 0.016; Leptin= 0.154 + or - 0.015, p=0.007), pituitary (Control= 0.104 + or - 0.0120; Leptin= 0.033 + or - 0.012, p=0.003), testis (Control= 3.75 + or - 0.055; Leptin= 3.19 + or - 0.10, p=0.002) and prostate (Control=1.641 + or - 0.1389; Leptin= 0.91 + or - 0.07, p=0.001).
Conclusion:
Leptin treatment on the first days of life can program the reproductive organs weight and the lipid profile of the progeny.
