The physiological mechanisms through which nutrition mediates its effects in controlling reproduction are not well characterized. Both neural and endocrine components have been implicated in the communication of nutritional status to the central nervous system. Leptin, a hormone synthesized and secreted mainly by adipocytes, is heavily involved in this communication network. The objectives of studies reported herein were 1) to determine the effects of short-term restriction of nutrients on circulating leptin, leptin gene expression in adipose tissue, and leptin receptor (LR) gene expression in the adenohypophysis of ovariectomized cows; and 2) to investigate the responsiveness of the hypothalamic-adenohypophyseal (AP) axis of fasted and non-fasted cattle to leptin. Studies demonstrated that circulating concentrations of leptin and leptin gene expression in subcutaneous adipose tissue are decreased by fasting. Although 2 to 3 days of fasting did not affect patterns of release of luteinizing hormone (LH), cerebroventricular infusions of leptin increased mean circulating concentrations of LH in fasted, but not normal-fed cows, without affecting frequency or amplitude of pulses of LH. In vitro studies were conducted to determine whether the in vivo effects of leptin could be accounted for at the hypothalamic and/or AP levels. Leptin did not affect the release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from hypothalamic-infundibular explants from either normal-fed or fasted cattle. Moreover, leptin did not affect the basal release of LH from bovine AP cells or AP explants from normal-fed cows. However, leptin induced a higher basal release of LH from AP explants of fasted cows and increased GnRH-stimulated release of LH from AP explants of normal-fed cows. Results demonstrate that leptin acts directly at the AP level to modulate the secretion of LH, and its effects are dependent upon nutritional status. Cellular mechanisms associated with the increased responsiveness of gonadotropes to leptin in fasted cows were investigated. Expression of LR and suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS-3) in the adenohypophysis did not account for the increased responsiveness of fasted cows to leptin. Therefore, although leptin clearly stimulates the hypothalamic-gonadotropic axis in nutrient-restricted cattle, it is unclear why cattle maintained under neutral or positive energy balance are resistant to leptin.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-162). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2001. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 125-162). Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--York University, 2007. Graduate Programme in Biology. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 119-133). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR38842

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Leptin, a protein hormone encoded by obese (ob) gene, is mainly produced by adipocytes. Leptin plays an important role in regulating neuroendocrine function and energy metabolism. As a cytokine, leptin is involved in modulating the hematopoiesis and lymphopoiesis. Although leptin has been found to promote T cells activation, it is largely unclear whether and how leptin regulates T cell differentiation and function. Leptin has been associated with disease severity in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Elevated leptin levels have been detected in the sera and synovial fluid of active RA patients. Th17 cells play key roles in synovitis and joint damage during arthritis development. However, the role of leptin on Th17 cells has not been investigated so far. In culture, leptin promoted Th17 cells differentiationfrom naïve 〖CD4〗^+ T cells via upregulating ROR-γt expression. Moreover, Th17 cells and IL-17 levels were significantly increased in leptin-treated naïve CD4+ T cells. Moreover, this study found that synoviocytes and chondrocytes produced large amounts of leptin especially during acute and chronic stages of mice with collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). Furthermore, leptin levels, Th17 cells in the joint and IL-17 levels in the synovial fluid were closely related to disease activity. Leptin intraarticular injection led to earlier onset of disease, higher clinical score, and more severe joint destruction compared with PBS-treated control mice. Importantly, leptin-injected mice had higher percentages of Th17 cells and cell numbers, elevated IL-17 levels in the synovial fluid, and increased infiltration of Th17 cells in the inflamed joint tissues compared with PBS-treated mice. T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are indispensible for pathogenic autoantibodies production. However, whether leptin receptor (ObR) signaling has a role on Tfh cells and its implication in CIA remain elusive. Upon a T cell-dependent antigen TNP-KLH immunization, germinal center (GC) response, plasma cells (PCs) and memory B cells formation were impaired in db/db mice compared with wild-type (WT) controls. In coculture of Tfh cells from db/db and WT mice with WT GC B cells, anti-TNP IgGs titers in supernatants of db/db Tfh cells were significantly reduced. Intravenously transfer of naïve CD4+ T cells from db/db and WT mice to BoyJ recipient mice, donor CD4+ T cells from db/db mice showed impaired Tfh cells generation in spleens of BoyJ recipient mice compared with mice received with WT CD4+ T cells. These data indicated that ObR-mediated signaling intrinsically modulate Tfh cells generation. In culture, leptin promoted Tfh cells differentiation via inducing Bcl6 expression, and increased IL-21 production in Tfh cells in a dose-dependent manner. Leptin significantly enhanced the phosphorylation of STAT3, upregulated Bcl6 expression, and increased p-STAT3 binding to the Il21 promoter in CD4+ T cells with leptin receptor b (Ob-Rb) overexpression. Upon CIA induction, db/db mice exhibited ameliorated disease severity with impaired Tfh cells response. However, WT Tfh cells transfer to db/db mice restored GC responses, PCs formation, antibody production, and exacerbated synovium inflammation and joint damage in db/db recipient mice. Together, these findings demonstrate that leptin modulates arthritis development via enhancement of Th17 and Tfh cells responses. / published_or_final_version / Pathology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Stressors generate adaptive responses, including transient suppression of reproductive function. Natural selection depends on successful reproduction, but inhibition of reproduction to survive famine or escape predation allows animals to survive to reproduce at a later time. The cellular locations and mechanisms responsible for inhibiting and reactivating the reproductive axis during and after stress, respectively, are not well understood. We demonstrated that stress-induced elevation in glucocorticoids affects hypothalamic neurons that secrete kisspeptin (KISS1), an important reproductive hormone. Stressors that stimulated glucocorticoid secretion, as well as glucocorticoid administration itself, inhibited Kiss1 mRNA expression, while conditions that did not change glucocorticoid secretion did not alter Kiss1 mRNA expression. In mice lacking glucocorticoid receptor specifically in kisspeptin-containing neurons, Kiss1 mRNA expression was no longer inhibited during restraint stress despite a rise in corticosterone, and both testosterone and copulatory behaviors showed accelerated recovery in the post-traumatic period. We also demonstrated that increased glucocorticoid secretion contributed to infertility and obesity in leptin-deficient mice. Leptin deficiency creates a chronic state of perceived starvation, and leptin-deficient mice exhibit elevated plasma glucocorticoid concentrations, morbid obesity, and infertility. Leptin-deficient, glucocorticoid-deficient mice exhibited decreased body weight and fat composition, decreased hyperphagia, and normal fertility. When supplemented with glucocorticoids back to the initial levels present in leptin deficiency, these mice gained weight and became infertile. Thus, leptin is not required for fertility as previously believed, and glucocorticoids can contribute to obesity and suppress fertility independently of leptin signaling. Together, these findings implicate glucocorticoids in the regulation of obesity and reproductive inhibition during stress, including perceived starvation caused by leptin deficiency. These studies may provide novel mechanisms and molecular targets in the reproductive and metabolic aspects of disorders characterized by glucocorticoid dysregulation, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anorexia nervosa, and mood disorders.

Dietary fatty acid (FA) composition and energy restriction (ER) independently affect serum leptin levels; however it is not known whether this correlates with changes in obese (ob) gene expression. Herein, we assessed whether dietary FA composition and ER influence white adipose tissue (WAT) ob mRNA by Northern analysis. Animals consumed diets containing tallow (BT), safflower oil (SO) or fish oil (FO) ad libitum or at 60% ad libitum intakes. Serum leptin values were not different between levels of energy intake. ER decreased weight gain and WAT weights, which positively correlated with serum leptin values. WAT ob mRNA levels were in the rank order: FO > SO > BT in depots of all groups with ER showing a lower level of ob mRNA. Data show similarity in ob mRNA levels between depots with discordance in circulating leptin levels. These data suggest that energy restriction exerts greater control over leptin production than dietary fat source.

Dietary flaxseed has cardioprotective effects that may be achieved through its rich content of the omega-3 fatty acid, alpha linolenic acid (ALA). We investigated the effects of dietary flaxseed both with and without an atherogenic cholesterol-enriched diet to determine the effects of dietary flaxseed on the expression of the adipose cytokines leptin and adiponectin. Rabbits were fed one of four diets: a regular (RG) diet, or a regular diet with added 0.5% cholesterol (CH), or 10% ground flaxseed (FX), or both (CF) for 8 weeks. Levels of leptin and adiponectin expression were assessed by RT-PCR in visceral adipose tissue. Consumption of flaxseed significantly increased plasma and adipose levels of ALA. Leptin, but not adiponectin, mRNA expression was lower in CH animals and was elevated in CF animals. Changes in leptin expression were strongly and positively correlated with adipose ALA levels and inversely correlated with levels of en face atherosclerosis. Our data demonstrate that the type of fat in the diet as well as its caloric content can specifically influence leptin expression. The findings support the hypothesis that the beneficial cardiovascular effects associated with flaxseed consumption may be related to a change in leptin expression.