Leptin messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) content in the human placenta at term: relationship to levels of leptin in cord blood and placental weight.

During fetal life, placental tissue represents an additional source of leptin for the mother and conceptus. It has been suggested that feto-placental production of leptin may be involved in placental and fetal growth regulation. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between leptin mRNA expression in the placenta and the concentrations of leptin in cord blood.