Leptin into the ventrolateral medulla facilitates chemorespiratory response in leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice

Aim: Leptin, an adipocyte-derived hormone, is suggested to participate in the central control of breathing. We hypothesized that leptin may facilitate ventilatory responses to chemoreflex activation by acting on respiratory nuclei of the ventrolateral medulla. The baseline ventilation and the ventilatory responses to CO2 were evaluated before and after daily injections of leptin into the retrotrapezoid nucleus/parafacial respiratory group (RTN/ pFRG) for 3 days in obese leptin-deficient (ob/ob) mice.