Abstract
Leptin plays an important role in energy homeostasis and reproductive function in mammals, while its function in fish is still poorly understood, especially its role in reproduction. In the present study, leptin gene expression and circulating leptin plasma levels were measured during sexual maturation in male Atlantic salmon parr. In maturing male salmon, higher hepatic leptin (lepa1) gene expression levels were observed during mid-spermatogenesis compared to immature fish. An upregulation of leptin during sexual maturation has also been observed in a few other teleost species. The physiological significance of elevated leptin levels during the maturational process in teleosts remains to be explored.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Peter Kling and Björn Thrandur Björnsson at the Fish Endocrinology lab, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, for the radioimmunoassay analysis of salmon leptin for this study. This research was supported by grants from the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (221-2006-1534 to MS).
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Trombley, S., Schmitz, M. Leptin in fish: possible role in sexual maturation in male Atlantic salmon. Fish Physiol Biochem 39, 103–106 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-012-9731-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-012-9731-0