ABSTRACT

The link between obesity and osteoporosis-two major public-health problems, has become central to bone research in recent years, ever since leptin was identified as a regulator ofboth appetite and bone density. In contrast, the effect o f leptin on skeletal development and bone elongation, another anticipated link between metabolic status and skeletal growth rate, has been

less recognized. Here we summarize the existing data on leptin s effects on bone elongation-its central effect through the G H R H -G H -IG F-1 axis on pubertal growth and its peripheral, direct roles on growth-plate chondrocytes, including the expression o f leptin and its receptor and its effect on each part o f the endochondral ossification process. We conclude that the data are still incomplete, as they give only a partial view o f leptin s role in bone development and growth.