摘要目的探讨胎盘肥胖基因及其蛋白表达水平与脐血瘦素和胎儿宫内生长发育的关系。方法在40例产妇分娩时采集胎盘与脐血，采用逆转录聚合酶链反应（RT-PCR）检测胎盘肥胖基因mRNA相对表达水平，采用Western-Blot检测胎盘肥胖基因蛋白(瘦素 leptin)表达水平，采用免疫组化观察胎盘肥胖基因蛋白表达位点，采用放射免疫法(RIA)检测脐血瘦素水平，采用Ponderal指数［PI=100×体重(g)/身长(cm)3］估测新生儿营养状态。 结果胎盘组织肥胖基因呈现高效表达，在胎盘滋养层细胞浆内肥胖基因蛋白阳性表达。胎盘肥胖基因及其蛋白表达水平与胎儿宫内生长发育状态显著相关，13例小于胎龄儿胎盘组织leptin-mRNA及其蛋白表达水平显著低于15例适于胎龄儿(P=0.003和0.008),12例大于胎龄儿胎盘组织leptin-mRNA及其蛋白表达水平显著高于适于胎龄儿（P=0.04和0.02）。胎盘肥胖基因mRNA及其蛋白表达水平与脐血瘦素水平显著相关(r=0.39和0.43，P<0.05),与新生儿Ponderal指数(PI)显著相关(r=0.66和0.69,P<0.01)。结论胎盘是脐血瘦素重要来源，胎盘瘦素可能对胎儿宫内生长发育有促进作用。

abstractsObjective　To study the role of placental leptin in intrauterine cord leptin production and its relationship with neonatal anthropometry. Methods　Forty women and their babies (40) were enrolled in this study. Placental tissues were assayed for leptin mRNA by reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR), and assayed for the obese gene protein leptin by Western-blot and immunohistochemistry. Blood was taken from the umbilical cord of the babies at delivery. Serum leptin was measured by radio-immunoassay. Neonatal anthropometric measurements were recorded within 48 hours after delivery. Linear regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between placental leptin, cord leptin and neonatal anthropometric measures. Results　The obese gene was expressed in placental tissue at comparable or greater levels than that in adipose tissue. The placentas of the small for gestational age (SGA) neonates expressed leptin mRNA and protein at significantly lower levels than those of the appropriate for gestational age (AGA) neonates (P=0.0034 and 0.0076), while the placentas of the large for gestational age (LGA) neonates expressed leptin mRNA and protein at significantly higher levels than those of the AGA neonates (P=0.043 and 0.021). Linear regression analysis showed placental ob gene transcription and leptin translation correlated significantly with cord leptin (r=0.39 and 0.43), and neonatal Ponderal Index (r=0.66 and 0.69). Conclusion　The placenta provides a source of leptin for the growing fetus, and this placental leptin might be a growth factor in intrauterine fetal development.