PHYS30001 Lecture Notes - Lecture 27: Placental Insufficiency, Kidney Development, Leptin
Document Summary
Days pn7-10: 5 -10 fold increase in leptin. Plateau: reduced to adult levels at day 35 (when offspring are weaned and can eat normal chow food) Function: maturation of a number of organs - kidney, pancreas, thymus, ovary. Reduces glomerular number and size - therefore leptin critical. Similar phenotype to growth restricted offspring - leads to nephron deficit and high blood pressure. Leptin surge reduced significantly in offspring suckled by mother with low protein diet. Mother has smaller fat store, smaller in size. Poor placental blood-flow = reduced oxygen and nutrients. Leptin surge in placental insufficiency is also decreased in growth-restricted offspring. When they start to consume normal food, this is regulated. Altered jak/stat signalling in heart of growth restricted offspring. Changes in heart signalling proteins in growth restricted offspring: increases risk of developing cvd. Males/females differ: both have decreased plasma leptin concentration but react differently at cellular level. Not enough leptin made by fat stores in pup.
