Antiobesity effects of chronic cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist treatment in diet-induced obese mice.

We determined the effect of a cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonist (AM-251; N-(Piperidin-1-yl)-5-(4-iodophenyl)-1-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4-methyl-1H-pyrazole-3-carboxamide) on food intake, body weight and adipose tissue mass in Western diet-induced obese (DIO) mice using a chronic, interrupted, oral dosing paradigm. The dosing paradigm was 2 weeks on treatment (treatment 1), 2 weeks off-treatment, followed by 2 weeks on treatment (treatment 2). During treatment 1 and treatment 2, food intake and body weight were reduced after a single dose. At 30 mg/kg/day, anorectic efficacy was maintained through 12 days (treatment 1) and 7 days (treatment 2). Body weight of AM-251-treated mice remained less than vehicle-treated mice throughout treatment 1 and treatment 2. Administration of AM-251 reduced inguinal subcutaneous, retroperitoneal and mesenteric adipose tissue mass. Antiobesity effects of AM-251 were lost during the off-treatment period, and hyperphagia was observed in treated animals. With re-initiation of AM-251 treatment, mice again responded to the effects of the compound. These results support the hypothesis that chronic treatment of obese individuals with cannabinoid CB1 receptor antagonists is a viable pharmacologic approach to sustained weight loss.