There is clear evidence of placental leptin production, as shown recently in trophoblast cultures and by dual in vitro placenta perfusion (median production of 225 pg/min per g of tissue; 98.4% released into the maternal and 1.6% into the fetal circulation). However, the physiological impact for the mother and the fetus is unclear. The classical role of leptin is to provide information about energy stores to the central nervous system, and to reduce appetite if the energy stores are full. In pregnancy, maternal plasma leptin concentrations are elevated, and lack the well established correlation with body fat energy stores that is observed in non-pregnant women, indicating an alternative function for leptin during pregnancy and fetal development. Maternal and fetal plasma leptin levels are dysregulated in pathological conditions such as gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia and intra-uterine growth retardation, representing an effect or a cause of disturbances in the feto/placento/maternal unit.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
May 2001
-
Cover Image
Cover Image
- PDF Icon PDF LinkFront Matter
- PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
- PDF Icon PDF LinkAdvertising
Conference Article|
May 01 2001
Physiological and pathological regulation of feto/placento/maternal leptin expression
K. Linnemann;
K. Linnemann
*Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Emst-Moritz-Arndt University, D-17489 Greifswald, Germany
Search for other works by this author on:
A. Malek;
A. Malek
†Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inselspital, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
Search for other works by this author on:
H. Schneider;
H. Schneider
†Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Inselspital, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland
Search for other works by this author on:
C. Fusch
C. Fusch
1
*Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Emst-Moritz-Arndt University, D-17489 Greifswald, Germany
1To whom correspondence should be addressed (e-mail fusch@mail.uni-greifswald.de)
Search for other works by this author on:
Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Received:
November 27 2000
Online ISSN: 1470-8752
Print ISSN: 0300-5127
© 2001 Biochemical Society
2001
Biochem Soc Trans (2001) 29 (2): 86–90.
Article history
Received:
November 27 2000
Citation
K. Linnemann, A. Malek, H. Schneider, C. Fusch; Physiological and pathological regulation of feto/placento/maternal leptin expression. Biochem Soc Trans 1 May 2001; 29 (2): 86–90. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/bst0290086
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Sign in to your personal account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Captcha Validation Error. Please try again.