The interaction between leptin and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis.

The description of the adipose tissue hormone leptin has led to important discoveries. Leptin plays a role not only in the regulation of metabolic efficiency, energy expenditure, food intake and adiposity, but also contributes greatly to the adaptation of the organism to starvation. Much of the literature has focused on the physiologic roles of leptin-driven processes as diverse as feeding behavior, body weight, defense to starvation and reproduction. The following discussion summarizes knowledge that has accumulated regarding the interaction between leptin and the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis.