This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Purchase Article View Shopping Cart 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 Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Harigaya, A. Articles by Morikawa, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Harigaya, A. Articles by Morikawa, A. Pubmed/NCBI databases OMIM Substance via MeSH

Relationship between Concentration of Serum Leptin and Fetal Growth

Department of Pediatrics, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Akira Harigaya, M.D., Department of Pediatrics, Gunma University School of Medicine, 3–39-15 Showa-machi, Maebashi, Gunma, 371, Japan. E-mail: ahariga{at}news.sb.gunma-u.ac.jp

The serum leptin concentration reflects the amount of adipose tissue in the body. Although fat deposition in the fetus in the third trimester markedly increases, the role of leptin during pregnancy has not been clarified. In the present study, whether or not the serum leptin concentration correlates with growth in utero was investigated, in addition to how leptin levels change in the first few days after birth.

One hundred sixteen Japanese infants were divided into term (n = 91) and preterm groups (n = 25). Term infants were divided into 3 subgroups: birth weight appropriate for gestational age (AGA) (n = 44), birth weight large for gestational age (LGA) (n = 28), and birth weight small for gestational age (SGA) (n = 19). Longitudinal changes in the concentration of serum leptin after birth were examined in 48 infants. The serum leptin concentration was determined by RIA.

No significant difference in leptin levels between cord sera and infants’ sera obtained within the first 6 h of life (n = 28) was observed. Within the first 6 h of life, the concentration of serum leptin in LGA infants (12.8 ± 10.2 ng/mL) and SGA infants (1.6 ± 1.1 ng/mL) was significantly higher and lower, respectively, than that in the AGA infants (4.4 ± 3.0 ng/mL) (P < 0.01). A significant positive correlation was found between the leptin concentration within 6 h of life and birth body weight (r = 0.59, P < 0.01). After birth, the concentration of leptin in LGA and AGA infants significantly decreased to the level in SGA infants within 48 h of delivery (P < 0.05). After 48 h of life, no significant differences in the concentration of leptin were observed among the three groups, and low levels continued to 7 days of age.

These findings indicate that serum level of leptin correlates with fetal body weight gain.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. S. Martin, A. Qasim, and M. P. Reilly Leptin Resistance: A Possible Interface of Inflammation and Metabolism in Obesity-Related Cardiovascular Disease J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., October 7, 2008; 52(15): 1201 - 1210. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. F. M. Wouters, K. H. Groenewegen, M. A. Dentener, and J. H. J. Vernooy Systemic Inflammation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: The Role of Exacerbations Proceedings of the ATS, December 1, 2007; 4(8): 626 - 634. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Collinson, S. Moore, M. O'Connell, C. Charalambos, and A. Prentice Developmental changes in leptin as a measure of energy status in human infants in a natural ecologic setting Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, February 1, 2005; 81(2): 488 - 494. [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]

				C. S. Yajnik, H. G. Lubree, S. S. Rege, S. S. Naik, J. A. Deshpande, S. S. Deshpande, C. V. Joglekar, and J. S. Yudkin Adiposity and Hyperinsulinemia in Indians Are Present at Birth J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2002; 87(12): 5575 - 5580. [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]

				T K Hytinantti, M Juntunen, H A Koistinen, V A Koivisto, S-L Karonen, and S Andersson Postnatal changes in concentrations of free and bound leptin Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., September 1, 2001; 85(2): F123 - 126. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Christou, J. M. Connors, M. Ziotopoulou, V. Hatzidakis, E. Papathanassoglou, S. A. Ringer, and C. S. Mantzoros Cord Blood Leptin and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Levels are Independent Predictors of Fetal Growth J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 2001; 86(2): 935 - 938. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. C. Henson and V. D. Castracane Leptin in Pregnancy Biol Reprod, November 1, 2000; 63(5): 1219 - 1228. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				P C Ng, C W K Lam, C H Lee, G W K Wong, T F Fok, E Wong, K C Ma, and I H S Chan Leptin and metabolic hormones in infants of diabetic mothers Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., November 1, 2000; 83(3): 193F - 197. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				P C Ng, C W K Lam, C H Lee, G W K Wong, T F Fok, I H S Chan, K C Ma, and E Wong Leptin and metabolic hormones in preterm newborns Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., November 1, 2000; 83(3): 198F - 202. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. Hytinantti, H. A Koistinen, V. A Koivisto, S.-L. Karonen, E.-M. Rutanen, S. Andersson;, A. BEREZIN, and M. MELO Increased leptin concentration in preterm infants of pre-eclamptic mothers Arch. Dis. Child. Fetal Neonatal Ed., July 1, 2000; 83(1): 13F - 16. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. M Prentice and G. R Goldberg Energy adaptations in human pregnancy: limits and long-term consequences Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, May 1, 2000; 71(5): 1226S - 1232. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. Chardonnens, P. Cameo, M.L. Aubert, F.P. Pralong, D. Islami, A. Campana, R.C. Gaillard, and P. Bischof Modulation of human cytotrophoblastic leptin secretion by interleukin-1{alpha} and 17{beta}-oestradiol and its effect on HCG secretion Mol. Hum. Reprod., November 1, 1999; 5(11): 1077 - 1082. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. C. Henson, V. D. Castracane, J. S. O’Neil, T. Gimpel, K. F. Swan, A. E. Green, and W. Shi Serum Leptin Concentrations and Expression of Leptin Transcripts in Placental Trophoblast with Advancing Baboon Pregnancy J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., July 1, 1999; 84(7): 2543 - 2549. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				I. Shimon, X. Yan, D. A. Magoffin, T. C. Friedman, and S. Melmed Intact Leptin Receptor Is Selectively Expressed in Human Fetal Pituitary and Pituitary Adenomas and Signals Human Fetal Pituitary Growth Hormone Secretion J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 1998; 83(11): 4059 - 4064. [Abstract] [Full Text]