Exogenous leptin controls the development of the small intestine in neonatal piglets
Leptin, a hormone produced and secreted by adipose tissue, muscles and stomach, is involved in the regulation of adipose tissue mass, food intake and body weight in neonatal animals. It is also produced in the mammary glands and secreted into the colostrum and milk. Since leptin receptors are widely distributed in the small intestine mucosa, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effe