leptin

American  

[lep-tin] / ˈlɛp tɪn /

noun

1. a hormone that is thought to suppress appetite and speed up metabolism.

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leptin British  

/ ˈlɛptɪn /

noun

1. a protein, produced by fat cells in the body, that acts on the brain to regulate the amount of additional fat laid down in the body

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leptin Scientific  

/ lĕp′tĭn′ /

1. A peptide hormone and neurotransmitter produced by fat cells and involved in the regulation of appetite.

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Etymology

Origin of leptin

1995–2000; < Greek leptós small, thin + -in ²

Example Sentences

Sedentary rats on the cafeteria diet had sharply higher insulin and leptin levels, but these elevations were significantly reduced in those that exercised.

From Science Daily

Professor Maria Leptin, the president of the European Research Council, will be conferred with a doctorate in medical science.

From BBC

The research, led by the lab of Richard Simerly, Louise B. McGavock Professor and professor of molecular physiology and biophysics, also supports a novel role for leptin in specifying the development of neural circuits involved in autonomic regulation and food intake.

From Science Daily

Leptin is a hormone that, in adults, regulates hunger by providing a sensation of satiety and helps maintain body weight on a long-term basis.

From Science Daily

In the weeks following birth, however, leptin also helps direct the formation of circuits that control homeostatic functions.

From Science Daily