文本框: PLACENTAL LEPTIN CORRELATES WITH INTRAUTERINE FETAL GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT BEN XM1, QIN YM1, WU SM2, CAI W2, ZHANG WL2 1Nanjing Children’s Hospital, Nanjing, China 2Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai, China Objective: To study the role of placental leptin in intrauterine cord leptin production and its relationship with neonatal anthropometry. Methods: Forty women and their babies were enrolled in this study. Placental tissue was assayed for leptin mRNA by reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR), and assayed for ob gene protein, leptin , by Western-Blot and immunohistochemistry. Blood was taken from the umbilical cord of the babies at delivery. Serum leptin was measured by radio-immunoassay. Neonatal anthropometric measurements were recorded within 48 hours after delivery. Linear regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between placental leptin, cord leptin and neonatal anthropometric measures. Results: Ob gene was expressed in placental tissue at comparable or greater levels than that in adipose tissue. The placenta of the small for gestational age (SGA) neonates expressed leptin mRNA and protein at significantly lower levels than that of the appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates (p=0.0034 and 0.0076), while the placenta of the large for gestational age (LGA) neonates expressed leptin mRNA and protein at significantly higher levels than that of the AGA neonates (p=0.043 and 0.021). Linear regression analysis showed the levels of placental ob gene mRNA and protein (leptin) correlated significantly with cord leptin (r = 0.39 and 0.43), and neonatal Ponderal Index (r = 0.66 and 0.69). Conclusion: Placenta provides a source of leptin for the growing fetus, and this placental leptin might be a growth factor in intrauterine fetal development. 0991