Epinephrine and glucose regulation of leptin synthesis and secretion in a teleost fish, the tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus)

•Hyperglycemia stimulates hepatic leptin mRNA in vivo.•Leptin is negatively regulated by rising glucose in hepatocytes in vitro.•Epinephrine increases leptin synthesis and secretion, both in vivo and in vitro.•Epinephrine may enhance leptin to mobilize glucose during a stress response.