Leptin fully suppresses insulin secretion induced by acetylcholine and its effect is reversed by tolbutamide in in vitro perfused chicken pancreas

The chicken leptin cDNA has been cloned and sequenced (AF012727, AF082500) (Taouis et al., 2001) and in this species, the leptin messenger has been found to be expressed not only in adipose tissue but also in the liver. In mammals, circulating leptin acts through specific receptors (Ob-Rb) located in the region of hypothalamus that regulates feeding behavior and energy expenditure; Ob-Rb have also been identified in the pancreatic ß-cells that produce insulin supporting evidence that leptin directly regulates insulin release (Kieffer et al. 2000). A direct effect of leptin on peripheral target tissues has not yet been demonstrated in chicken. The work was designed to study the effect of recombinant chicken leptin on acetylcholine-induced insulin secretion by isolated perfused chicken pancreas.