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Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)2005; 172(3); 460-465; doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2005.05.002

Adiponectin and leptin are related to fat mass in horses.

Abstract: Plasma concentrations of adiponectin and leptin were measured in 23 mature Standardbred mares (age: 10+/-3 years) and 12 weanling fillies (10 Quarter Horse/Belgian crossbreds and two Quarter Horses; aged: 4+/-3 months) to test the hypothesis that adipocytokines are proportional to adiposity in horses. Rump fat thickness was measured using B-mode ultrasound and percent body fat (% fat) calculated using a published formula for the estimation of fatness in horses. Plasma adiponectin and leptin were determined using radioimmunoassay. In the absence of purified equine adiponectin or leptin, results were expressed as human equivalents (HE) of immunoreactive (ir) adipocytokines. Plasma ir-leptin HE concentration was positively correlated (r=0.543; P<0.001) with percent body fat and (r=0.556; P<0.001) to fat mass in all horses. The plasma ir-leptin HE concentration was lower (P=0.03) in weanlings (1.90+/-0.34 ng/mL HE) than in mature mares (3.47+/-0.50 ng/mL HE). The ratio of ir-adiponectin HE to ir-leptin HE was negatively correlated (r=-0.621; P<0.001) to percent fat and (r=-631; P<0.001) to fat mass in all horses. The ratio of ir-adiponectin HE to ir-leptin HE was higher (P<0.001) in weanlings (3.04+/-0.51) than mature mares (1.03+/-0.13). These data suggest that leptin is proportional while adiponectin is inversely proportional to adiposity in horses.
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Publication Date: 2005-06-29 PubMed ID: 15996495DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2005.05.002Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article suggests that in horses, the levels of the hormones leptin and adiponectin are related to body fat, with leptin increasing and adiponectin decreasing with greater fat mass.

Methodology

  • The researchers studied 23 mature Standardbred mares and 12 weanling fillies, with the latter including 10 Quarter Horse/Belgian crossbreds and two Quarter Horses.
  • Rump fat thickness was measured using B-mode ultrasound, and body fat percentage was calculated using a previously published formula designed for horses.
  • Plasma levels of adiponectin and leptin were determined using radioimmunoassay, a common technique in lab medicine that uses the principle of antibody-antigen binding to measure the amount of a substance.

Results

  • The study indicated a positive correlation between plasma leptin concentration and body fat percentage, as well as fat mass in all horses. This means as body fat increases, plasma leptin levels also increase.
  • Conversely, the ratio of adiponectin to leptin was negatively correlated with body fat percentage and fat mass. This suggests as the fat mass increases, adiponectin levels decrease, or remain constant while leptin levels rise. This is why the ratio of adiponectin to leptin decreases as fat mass increases.
  • The study also found that the plasma leptin concentration was lower in young horses (weanlings) compared to mature mares, and the ratio of adiponectin to leptin was higher in the young horses. This may suggest age-related variations in the relationship between these hormones and body adiposity.

Conclusion

  • This study provides evidence supporting the hypothesis that adipocytokines, specifically adiponectin and leptin, are indicative of adiposity (the quality or state of being fat) in horses.
  • Specifically, it suggests that leptin levels rise with increased fat mass, while adiponectin levels decrease, or stay the same as leptin rises with increased fat mass.

Cite This Article

APA
Kearns CF, McKeever KH, Roegner V, Brady SM, Malinowski K. (2005). Adiponectin and leptin are related to fat mass in horses. Vet J, 172(3), 460-465. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2005.05.002

Publication

Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)
ISSN: 1090-0233
NlmUniqueID: 9706281
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 172
Issue: 3
Pages: 460-465

Researcher Affiliations

Kearns, Charles F
  • Equine Science Center, Department of Animal Science, Rutgers The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
McKeever, Kenneth H
    Roegner, Vivien
      Brady, Shannon M
        Malinowski, Karyn

          MeSH Terms

          • Adiponectin / blood
          • Adipose Tissue / metabolism
          • Animals
          • Body Weight
          • Female
          • Horses / blood
          • Horses / metabolism
          • Leptin / blood
          • Linear Models

          Citations

          This article has been cited 22 times.
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