Long form leptin receptor mRNA expression in the hypothalamus and pituitary during early pregnancy in the pig.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was the detection and location of long form leptin receptor (OB-Rb) in different area of hypothalamus and pituitary in the pig during early pregnancy. SETTINGS AND DESIGN Expression of OB-Rb was examined by RT-PCR in the different area of hypothalamus: medial basal hypothalamus (MBH), preoptic area (POA), stalk median eminence (SME), as well as pituitary: the anterior (AP) and posterior (NP) lobe collected from gilts at days 14-16 (n=4) and 30-32 (n=4) of pregnancy. RESULTS The results showed that OB-Rb mRNA was expressed in the hypothalamus (MBH, POA and SME), pituitary (AP, NP) and adipose tissue in the pig during early pregnancy (at days 14-16 and 30-32). CONCLUSION These findings support the idea that leptin might play a role in the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary axis activity, and consequently in the control of pregnancy during critical period of embryo implantation in the pig.