EN
INTRODUCTION: There is a strong evidence that neurons co-expressing kisspeptin (KP), neurokinin B (NKB) and dynorphin (Dyn), so called KNDy neurons, are important factors governing the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. These neurons are present in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC), which is also a region involved in energy homeostasis. It was shown that expression of KP, NKB and Dyn is dependent on hormonal and metabolic status. We have previous found that type 2 diabetes but not diet-induced obesity increases number of KP-, NKB- and non-pregnant ewes and ewes euthanized at 30, 60, 90, 120 d of pregnancy (3 ewes/group). Real-time PCR was used to measure SOCS-3 mRNA abundance. RESULTS: Results showed that SOCS-3 transcript level increased in MBH at 30, 60 and 90 d of gestation in comparison with non-pregnant ewes (P<0.05). The greatest SOCS-3 transcript abundance was observed at 120 d of pregnancy in ARC and in AP. In ME, SOCS‑3 expression significantly decreased (P<0.05) during early- and mid-pregnancy (at 30 and 60 d of gestation) but during late-pregnancy (120 d of gestation) it increased to a level comparable to that of non-pregnant ewes. In the CP, SOCS-3 mRNA expression in first half of pregnancy was similar to that observed in non-pregnant females, but increased markedly in the second half of pregnancy (P<0.05). Interestingly, SOCS-3 expression decreased throughout pregnancy in the PG (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The pattern of expression of SOCS-3 differs among brain locations and by stage of pregnancy within brain and AP locations and variation in SOCS-3 transcripts may be one of the factors in brain and AP that mediate homeorhetic adjustments in metabolism during gestation. FINANCIAL SUPPORT: Research supported by grant from Polish National Science Centre no 2013/09/B/NZ4/01532.