Overview of the Importance of Leptin as a Signaling Protein in Farm Animals

Abstract

Leptin is a protein secreted by fat cell and shown to be involved in the regulation of feed intake, metabolism, growth and energy expenditure in farm animals. Apart from its role as a hunger signal, leptin also serves as a metabolic signal interacting with neuro-peptides thereby linking energy status with neuro-hormonal pathways. There are reports of other function of leptin such as its direct role in modulating ovarian activity and its metabolic functions at the onset of puberty and resumption of post-partum reproductive functions.