Localisation of leptin, ghrelin, their receptors, obestatin and GPR39 in the cow placenta during pregnancy

Authors : Bayram Bayram, Uğur Topaloğlu, Hakan Sağsöz
Pages : 187-197
Doi:10.31196/huvfd.1798241
View : 59 | Download : 128
Publication Date : 2025-12-24
Article Type : Research Paper
Abstract :Several peptides are expressed in the uterine endometrium and placenta during implantation, suggesting that chemical mediators play an important role in the feto-maternal relationship. Peptide hormones such as leptin, ghrelin, and obestatin are produced in the bovine placenta and play major roles in nutrient distribution and regulation of energy balance, as well as in placental and fetal growth. We evaluated the spatio-temporal expression patterns of leptin, ghrelin, obestatin, GPR39, and their receptors (OB-R, GHS-R) in the bovine placental and interplacentomal tissues during pregnancy in the uteri of 44 pregnant Holstein cows. During pregnancy, leptin, ghrelin, and obestatin, GPR39, as well as their receptors (OB-R, GHS-R), were present in fetal trophoblasts (uninucleate trophoblasts (UTC), binucleate and multinucleate trophoblasts (BNC/TGC)). Epithelial cells of the maternal placenta showed moderate leptin and OB-R expression at similar levels across the three gestational periods. Ghrelin was expressed in fetal uninucleate trophoblasts (UTC) and multinucleate trophoblasts (BNC/TGC), especially during the second period of pregnancy. Strong cytoplasmic expression of obestatin and GPR39 was observed in UTC and BNC/TGC throughout gestation. Moderate to strong expression of leptin, ghrelin, obestatin, GPR39 and their receptors was detected in luminal and glandular epithelial cells in the interplacentomal region during pregnancy. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that these peptide hormones and their receptors were found in the cytoplasm of many cells in the fetal and maternal tissues during pregnancy. These results suggest that leptin, ghrelin, obestatin, and their receptors could be involved in the growth and development of the placenta via placental and interplacentomal expression.
Keywords : GHS-R, leptin, maternal epithelium, obestatin, placenta, trophoblasts

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