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The stomach is a source of leptin
A Bado1, S Levasseur, S Attoub
1Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale Unité 10, IFR2 Cellules Epithéliales, Hôpital Bichat, Paris, France.
Nature
|September 2, 1998
Summary
Researchers discovered leptin, a hormone regulating body weight, in rat stomach cells. Food intake and CCK-8 hormone decreased gastric leptin, increasing plasma leptin, suggesting a role in satiety.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Leptin, a product of the ob gene, is a circulating peptide hormone.
- Leptin regulates food intake and body-weight homeostasis via central Ob receptors.
- Leptin was previously thought to be secreted exclusively by adipocytes and the placenta.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence and potential function of leptin in the gastric epithelium.
- To explore the regulation of gastric leptin by feeding and cholecystokinin (CCK).
Main Methods:
- Detection of leptin messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein in rat gastric epithelium.
- Immunohistochemical analysis of leptin in gastric fundic mucosa cells.
- Measurement of gastric and plasma leptin concentrations following feeding and CCK-8 administration.
Main Results:
- Leptin mRNA and protein were identified in rat gastric epithelium.
- Cells within the gastric fundic mucosa glands showed positive immunoreactivity for leptin.
- Feeding and CCK-8 administration led to a rapid decrease in gastric leptin and a concurrent increase in plasma leptin.
Conclusions:
- The gastric epithelium represents a previously unrecognized source of leptin.
- Gastric leptin may play a role in the early, cholecystokinin-mediated effects of food intake, potentially contributing to satiety.