Low dose peripheral leptin infusion produces selective activation of ventromedial hypothalamic and hindbrain STAT3

Harris RBS (2023) Low dose peripheral leptin infusion produces selective activation of ventromedial hypothalamic and hindbrain STAT3. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 325(1):E72-E82. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00083.2023 PMID: 37285599

Objective: To show that the deletion of leptin-receptor expressing cells in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) has no effect on basal body weight or body fat mass, but greatly attenuates the inhibition of food intake.

Summary: This study evaluates leptin’s impact on hypothalamic pSTAT3 in leptin-infused versus injected rats. High-dose leptin suppressed food intake and reduced weight and fat mass without affecting energy metrics, with pSTAT3 increases observed in the VMH only during intake suppression and in the nucleus of the solitary tract over both short and extended periods. These results highlight the role of VMH and hindbrain receptors in mediating leptin’s effects on food intake and metabolic changes.

Usage: Leptin-SAP is referenced in Seamon et al 2019: Male Sprague-Dawley rats received bilateral VMH 75 nl injections of 260 ng/microliter of Leptin-SAP (IT-47) or Blank-Saporin (IT-21).

Related Products: Leptin-SAP (Cat. #IT-47), Blank-SAP (Cat. #IT-21)

See Also:

• Seamon M et al. Leptin receptor-expressing neurons in ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus contribute to weight loss caused by fourth ventricle leptin infusions. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 317(4):E586-E596, 2019.