Age-related differences in the thermogenic and ponderal effects following the administration of fragment peptides from the rat ob protein

The ob gene encodes a protein, which regulates satiety, metabolic rate and fat storage. The administration of a pool of five 20-amino-acid fragment peptides derived from the carboxy-terminal region of the ob protein produced a statistically significant reduction in body weight gain in adult rats, while rectal temperature showed a statistically significant increase.

Administration of the same pool of peptides to young rats did not produce changes in body weight gain, although a statistically significant transient increase in rectal temperature was observed.

These results envisage the possibility that small sequences of amino acids derived from the ob protein may mimic the effects of the whole protein on temperature and ponderal regulation. Furthermore, data suggest possible age-related differences in the response to leptin administration.

CITATION  Regul Pept. 1998 Feb 2;73(2):83-7