Endocrine Abstracts

Leptin, the 16 kDa product of the obese gene, and uncoupling proteins (UCP) are both involved in energy expenditure. Piglets have recently been shown to express UCP2, it has been speculated that the induction of UCP2 in adipose tissue by leptin may stimulate thermogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of leptin administration on body temperature, leptin and UCP2 mRNA. Ten Meishan sows gave birth naturally at term and siblings were paired by birth weight ...

Leptin, 16 kDa polypeptide hormone is produced primarily, although not exclusively, by adipocytes. It has been proposed to play a role in neonatal growth and development. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of chronic leptin administration on the growth performance and endocrine profile of neonatal pigs. Ten Meishan sows gave birth naturally at term and siblings were paired by birth weight and gender. Piglets were subsequently randomly allocated to either ...

Ghrelin, a circulating gastric hormone, stimulates food intake in rodents and humans and hyperphagia, weight gain and adiposity on chronic administration in rodents. Here we investigated the effect of chronic subcutaneous ghrelin on fat volume and distribution using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Male Wistar rats were implanted with subcutaneous osmotic mini-pumps delivering saline (S, n=10) or ghrelin 30nmol/24hours (n=18). In order to investigate the hyperphagia-independe...