Prolactin receptor signaling is essential for perinatal brown adipocyte function: a role for insulin-like growth factor-2.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The lactogenic hormones prolactin (PRL) and placental lactogens (PL) play central roles in reproduction and mammary development. Their actions are mediated via binding to PRL receptor (PRLR), highly expressed in brown adipose tissue (BAT), yet their impact on adipocyte function and metabolism remains unclear.

Methodology/principal findings

PRLR knockout (KO) newborn mice were phenotypically characterized in terms of thermoregulation and their BAT differentiation assayed for gene expression studies. Derived brown preadipocyte cell lines were established to evaluate the molecular mechanisms involved in PRL signaling on BAT function. Here, we report that newborn mice lacking PRLR have hypotrophic BAT depots that express low levels of adipocyte nuclear receptor PPARga

SUBMITTER: Viengchareun S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2212135 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature