N. Kronfeld-schor et al., Hyperleptinemia in pregnant bats is characterized by increased placental leptin secretion in vitro, ENDOCRINE, 14(2), 2001, pp. 225-233
Hyperleptinemia is a common feature of pregnancy in mammals. The source of
increased plasma leptin is uncertain. We examined leptin secretory rates in
vitro to test the hypothesis that leptin secretion is upregulated during p
regnancy, Two species of insectivorous bats were examined, Myotis lucifugus
and Eptesicus fuscus, because of their unique reproductive cycle. Body mas
s and plasma leptin significantly increased with gestation and decreased du
ring lactation. Adiposity increased in midgestation, then decreased in late
gestation and lactation and was not significantly correlated with plasma l
eptin in pregnant or early lactating individuals. Leptin secretion in vitro
per gram of adipose tissue tended to increase with gestation but was not s
ignificantly correlated with plasma leptin in the same individuals. Leptin
secretion from placentae, however, increased with gestation and was signifi
cantly correlated with plasma leptin from the same individuals. In suckling
pups, plasma leptin was high shortly after birth, then decreased to low le
vels that were not correlated with adiposity thereafter. We conclude that i
n bats, the placenta is a major source of circulating leptin during pregnan
cy, and that adiposity and plasma leptin levels are decoupled during three
different periods of intense metabolic demand (pregnancy, early lactation,
and neonatal growth).