Effect of Central Antileptin Antibody on the Onset of Female Rat Puberty

Ruimin Chen,Daoxin Zheng,Kenneth L Mccormick,Rongxian Xu,Yanfeng Fan,Xiangquan Lin,Gail J Mick

doi:10.1155/2009/194807

Abstract

The effect of intracerebroventricular (ICV) antileptin antibody on the onset of puberty in the female rat and the relationship between serum leptin, luteinizing hormone (LH), and body weight were investigated. Antileptin antibody (group A) was infused ICV from days 23–36 in prepubertal female rats whereas the control (group B) received ICV goat immunoglobulin G (IgG). In the antileptin group, mean day of vaginal opening (VO) was postponed (day 34 versus day 30, P < .01 ). Body weight trended higher after 30 days in the antileptin group but not significantly. However, there was no difference in serum leptin and LH between the two groups on the day of VO. Serum leptin was relatively constant from day 23 through day 31 and did not correlate with LH (r = 0.14, P = .10). These studies demonstrate that central leptin promotes the onset of female rat puberty as evidenced by VO. Finally, central leptin impacts female rat pubertal onset in distinction from serum leptin and body weight.

Highlights

It is well recognized that a requisite for the onset of human puberty is a healthy body composition, a critical mass of body fat [1, 2]
The body weight on the day of vaginal opening (VO) in the antileptin antibody group was not significantly higher compared to the control group B (Figure 1)
By using normal healthy female rats, this study examined the effect of ICV antileptin antibody on the onset of rat puberty and circulating levels of leptin and luteinizing hormone (LH)

Summary

Introduction

It is well recognized that a requisite for the onset of human puberty is a healthy body composition, a critical mass of body fat [1, 2]. One indication that leptin is involved in centrally regulated maturation of the reproductive system was the discovery that ob/ob females are always sterile [6], and weight loss induced by dietary restriction fails to correct their sterility. Leptin can increase the hypothalamic gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) content at 15 days of age in female rats [13]. In agreement with this finding, studies in healthy mice demonstrated premature puberty after intraperitoneal leptin administration [14].

Methods

Results

Discussion