Leptin, the ob gene product, in female health and disease

Leptin is a recently discovered hormone which is involved in the regulation of body weight. It provides a molecular basis for the lipostatic theory of the regulation of energy balance. White adipose tissue is the main site of leptin synthesis and there is some evidence of ob gene expression in brown fat. Leptin seems to play a key role in the control of body fat stores by coordinated regulation of feeding behaviour, metabolic rate, autonomic nerv ous system regulation and body energy balance in rodents, primates and huma ns. Apart from the function of leptin in the central nervous system on the regulation of energy balance, it may well be one of the hormonal factors th at signal the body's readiness for sexual maturation and reproduction to th e brain. During late pregnancy and at birth when maternal fat stores have b een developed leptin levels are high. Leptin could then be a messenger mole cule signaling the adequcay of the fat stores for reproduction and maintena nce of pregnancy. At later stages of gestation leptin could signal the expa nsion of fat stores in order to prepare the expectant mother for the energy requirements of full term gestation, labour and lactation. This overview f ocuses on those topics of leptin research which are of particular interest in reproductive medicine and gynecology. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.