Intermittent hypoxia and systemic leptin administration induces pSTAT3 and Fos/Fra-1 in the carotid body

► Carotid bodies, afferents in carotid sinus nerve and petrosal/nodose ganglia express long form of leptin receptor (Ob-Rb). ► Intermittent hypoxia (IH) in conscious animal elicits an increase in plasma levels of leptin. ► IH and systemic injections of leptin induces pSTAT3 and fos/Fra-1 protein expression in carotid body glomus cells. ► IH and systemic injections of leptin induces fos/Fra-1 expression in petrosal and nodose ganglion cells. ► These data suggest that leptin released during IH may modulate the activity of peripheral chemoreceptor reflex.