BACKGROUND: Hypothalamic obesity caused by damage of medial hypothalamic nuclei presents a therapeutic challenge. Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist exenatide (synthetic version of exendin-4 (Ex4)), used for treatment of diabetes, causes weight loss via hindbrain signaling. METHODS: We tested Ex4 in an established rat model of medial hypothalamic lesions. Lesion and control animals were administered either daily intraperitoneal injections of 1 µg·kg(-1) Ex4 or saline for 9 days. RESULTS: In our rat model, a significant difference in percent baseline food intake (lesion -20.8%, control -13.6%; p < 0.001) and percent change in body weight (lesion -4.9%/9 days, control -3.2%/9 days; p < 0.05) was observed during Ex4 treatment compared with saline. CONCLUSION: Ex4 resulted in reduction of food intake and body weight. Follow-up studies are required to further elucidate its effects on energy homeostasis and to establish Ex4 as a potential drug for treatment of hypothalamic obesity.
BACKGROUND:Hypothalamic obesity caused by damage of medial hypothalamic nuclei presents a therapeutic challenge. Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist exenatide (synthetic version of exendin-4 (Ex4)), used for treatment of diabetes, causes weight loss via hindbrain signaling. METHODS: We tested Ex4 in an established rat model of medial hypothalamic lesions. Lesion and control animals were administered either daily intraperitoneal injections of 1 µg·kg(-1) Ex4 or saline for 9 days. RESULTS: In our rat model, a significant difference in percent baseline food intake (lesion -20.8%, control -13.6%; p < 0.001) and percent change in body weight (lesion -4.9%/9 days, control -3.2%/9 days; p < 0.05) was observed during Ex4 treatment compared with saline. CONCLUSION: Ex4 resulted in reduction of food intake and body weight. Follow-up studies are required to further elucidate its effects on energy homeostasis and to establish Ex4 as a potential drug for treatment of hypothalamic obesity.
Authors: Christian L Roth; Francisco A Perez; Kathryn B Whitlock; Clinton Elfers; Jack A Yanovski; Ashley H Shoemaker; M Jennifer Abuzzahab Journal: Diabetes Obes Metab Date: 2020-10-25 Impact factor: 6.577