Circulating leptin concentrations in Lipizzan horses and Jezersko-Solchava sheep
2005
Cebulj-Kadunc, N., Ljubljana Univ. (Slovenia). Veterinary Fac. | Cestnik, V.
Leptin is a protein hormone synthesized in adipocytes of the white adipose tissue, whose level of expression and secretion parallels the quantity of body fat. Investigations in different species have identified leptin as an indicator of nutritional status and an important regulator of appetite, energy metabolism and body composition. The aim of our work was to measure circulating leptin levels in two Slovenian autochthonous breeds, Lipizzan horses and Jezersko-Solchava sheep, in order to study the dependence of its concentration on age, body weight and gender. Serum leptin concentrations in 89 Lipizzan stallions and mares, 47 Jezersko-Solchava lambs of both sexes and 48 Jezersko-Solchava rams were measured with a commercial radioimmunoassay (RIA) kit. The significant elevations paralleled age and weight gain, as reported in other animal species and breeds. In young Lipizzan horses, the lowest leptin concentrations (1.064 ng/ml +/- 0.19 ng/ml) were observed in yearling colts and the highest (1.94 ng/ml +/- 0.33 ng/ml) in 4-year old fillies. In adult Lipizzan stallions and pregnant mares, the values were 1.99 ng/ml +/- 0.20 ng/ml and 1.19 ng/ml +/- 0.15 ng/ml, respectively. In Jezersko-Solchava sheep, the lowest concentrations (0.10 ng/ml +/- 0.09 ng/ml) were found in lambs weighing 1 - 5 kg and the highest (0.81 ng/ml +/- 0.12 ng/ml) in 12-month old rams. Agreement of these leptin concentrations with values reported in the literature indicates the suitability of the multispecies RIA kit for measuring circulating leptin concentrations in equine and ovine species.
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