This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints, Permissions and Rights Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Linnemann, K. Articles by Fusch, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Linnemann, K. Articles by Fusch, C.

Leptin Production and Release in the Dually in VitroPerfused Human Placenta¹

Department of Neonatology, University Children’s Hospital (K.L., C.F.), D-17489 Greifswald, Germany; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Insel Spital, University of Bern (A.M., R.S., H.S.), CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland; and Lilly Research Laboratories (W.F.B.), D-61350 Bad Homburg, Germany

Address all correspondence and requests for reprint to: Prof. Dr. Christoph Fusch, Department of Neonatology, University Children’s Hospital, Soldmannstrasse 15, D-17489 Greifswald, Germany. E-mail: fusch{at}mail.uni-greifswald.de

There is clear evidence that the placenta produces leptin. However, it is still unclear to what extent leptin is released into the maternal and the fetal circulation. The aim of our study was to determine placental leptin release rates into these 2 compartments. In 10 term placentas, using dual in vitro perfusion of an isolated cotyledon, concentrations of leptin, hCG, and human placental lactogen (hPL) were determined in perfusates and in the tissue before and after perfusion. With perfusions lasting 270–840 min, total leptin production was 225 pg/g·min [median; interquartile range (IQR), 76–334 pg/g·min]. The release into the fetal circulation was very low (median, 2.5; IQR, 1.1–5.9 pg/g·min) compared with the release into the maternal circulation (median, 203; IQR, 79–373 pg/g·min) corresponding to 1.6% and 98.4% of net release. Only 0.05% of hPL and hCG were released into the fetal circulation and 99.95% into the maternal circulation, confirming previous results. Release into the fetal circulation correlated significantly with release into the maternal circulation for leptin (r = 0.648; P < 0.05) and hPL (r = 0.721; P < 0.05). Furthermore, release of leptin into the fetal circulation was positively correlated with release of fetal hCG (r = 0.661; P < 0.05).

Most of the leptin produced by the placenta is released into the maternal circulation, but compared with other placental hormones (hCG and hPL), a considerably higher proportion of leptin is released into the fetal circulation. These findings may at least partially explain the marked increase in maternal serum leptin levels in pregnancy. The rapid postnatal decrease in leptin levels in both the mother and the neonate is also consistent with the concept of placental origin.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				D. D. Briana and A. Malamitsi-Puchner Reviews: Adipocytokines in Normal and Complicated Pregnancies Reproductive Sciences, October 1, 2009; 16(10): 921 - 937. [Abstract] [PDF]

				A. J. Forhead and A. L. Fowden The hungry fetus? Role of leptin as a nutritional signal before birth J. Physiol., March 15, 2009; 587(6): 1145 - 1152. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Kayemba-Kay's, M. P P Geary, J. Pringle, C. H Rodeck, J. C P Kingdom, and P. C Hindmarsh Gender, smoking during pregnancy and gestational age influence cord leptin concentrations in newborn infants Eur. J. Endocrinol., September 1, 2008; 159(3): 217 - 224. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C.-C. Juan, T.-Y. Chuang, C.-C. Lien, Y.-J. Lin, S.-W. Huang, C. F. Kwok, and L.-T. Ho Leptin increases endothelin type A receptor levels in vascular smooth muscle cells Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, March 1, 2008; 294(3): E481 - E487. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Lanyi, A. Varnagy, K. A Kovacs, T. Csermely, M. Szasz, and I. Szabo Ghrelin and acyl ghrelin in preterm infants and maternal blood: relationship with endocrine and anthropometric measures Eur. J. Endocrinol., January 1, 2008; 158(1): 27 - 33. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D.-M. Alexe, G. Syridou, and E. Th. Petridou Determinants of Early Life Leptin Levels and Later Life Degenerative Outcomes Clin. Med. Res., December 1, 2006; 4(4): 326 - 335. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. A. Ducsay, K. Hyatt, M. Mlynarczyk, K. M. Kaushal, and D. A. Myers Long-term hypoxia increases leptin receptors and plasma leptin concentrations in the late-gestation ovine fetus Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, November 1, 2006; 291(5): R1406 - R1413. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Laivuori, M.J. Gallaher, L. Collura, W.R. Crombleholme, N. Markovic, A. Rajakumar, C.A. Hubel, J.M. Roberts, and R.W. Powers Relationships between maternal plasma leptin, placental leptin mRNA and protein in normal pregnancy, pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction without pre-eclampsia Mol. Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2006; 12(9): 551 - 556. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I. C. Mcmillen and J. S. Robinson Developmental Origins of the Metabolic Syndrome: Prediction, Plasticity, and Programming Physiol Rev, April 1, 2005; 85(2): 571 - 633. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Musicki, G. J. Pepe, and E. D. Albrecht Functional Differentiation of the Placental Syncytiotrophoblast: Effect of Estrogen on Chorionic Somatomammotropin Expression during Early Primate Pregnancy J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 2003; 88(9): 4316 - 4323. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Jansson, S. L. Greenwood, B. R. Johansson, T. L. Powell, and T. Jansson Leptin Stimulates the Activity of the System A Amino Acid Transporter in Human Placental Villous Fragments J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2003; 88(3): 1205 - 1211. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B.S. Muhlhausler, C.T. Roberts, J.R. McFarlane, K.G. Kauter, and I.C. McMillen Fetal Leptin Is a Signal of Fat Mass Independent of Maternal Nutrition in Ewes Fed at or above Maintenance Energy Requirements Biol Reprod, August 1, 2002; 67(2): 493 - 499. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Verhaeghe, A. Pintiaux, E. van Herck, G. Hennen, J.-M. Foidart, and A. Igout Placental GH, IGF-I, IGF-Binding Protein-1, and Leptin during a Glucose Challenge Test in Pregnant Women: Relation with Maternal Body Weight, Glucose Tolerance, and Birth Weight J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2002; 87(6): 2875 - 2882. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Ehrhardt, A. W. Bell, and Y. R. Boisclair Spatial and developmental regulation of leptin in fetal sheep Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, June 1, 2002; 282(6): R1628 - R1635. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. M. Reis, D. D'Antona, and F. Petraglia Predictive Value of Hormone Measurements in Maternal and Fetal Complications of Pregnancy Endocr. Rev., April 1, 2002; 23(2): 230 - 257. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. J. Forhead, L. Thomas, J. Crabtree, N. Hoggard, D. S. Gardner, D. A. Giussani, and A. L. Fowden Plasma Leptin Concentration in Fetal Sheep during Late Gestation: Ontogeny and Effect of Glucocorticoids Endocrinology, April 1, 2002; 143(4): 1166 - 1173. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Coutant, F. Boux de Casson, O. Douay, E. Mathieu, S. Rouleau, F. Beringue, P. Gillard, J. M. Limal, and P. Descamps Relationships between Placental GH Concentration and Maternal Smoking, Newborn Gender, and Maternal Leptin: Possible Implications for Birth Weight J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2001; 86(10): 4854 - 4859. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Yamashita, J. Shao, T. Ishizuka, P. J. Klepcyk, P. Muhlenkamp, L. Qiao, N. Hoggard, and J. E. Friedman Leptin Administration Prevents Spontaneous Gestational Diabetes in Heterozygous Leprdb/+ Mice: Effects on Placental Leptin and Fetal Growth Endocrinology, July 1, 2001; 142(7): 2888 - 2897. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Lepercq, J.-C. Challier, M. Guerre-Millo, M. Cauzac, H. Vidal, and S. Hauguel-de Mouzon Prenatal Leptin Production: Evidence That Fetal Adipose Tissue Produces Leptin J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2001; 86(6): 2409 - 2413. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]