Neonatal leptin treatment programmes leptin hypothalamic resistance and intermediary metabolic parameters in adult rats

We previously showed that neonatal leptin treatment programmes higher body weight and food intake in adult rats. Here we investigate whether leptin treatment during lactation affects the anorectic effect of leptin on adult rats and their hypothalamic leptin receptors (OB-Rb) and whether those changes could have consequences on intermediary metabolism. When the offspring were born, pups were divided into two groups: the Lep group, injected daily with leptin (8 microgram/100 g body weight, subcutaneously) for the first 10 d of lactation, and the control group, injected daily with saline. After weaning (day 21), body weight and food intake were monitored until the rats were 150 d old. Food intake was higher in the Lep group (approximately 14 %, P