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Glucagon-like peptide-1 agonist exendin-4 leads to reduction of weight and caloric intake in a rat model of hypothalamic obesity.
Horm Res Paediatr · 2012
Last updated 2026-05-28In a rat study, daily injections of the GLP-1 drug exendin-4 (Ex4) at a dose of 1 microgram per kilogram of body weight for 9 days reduced food intake by 20.8% in rats with hypothalamic damage and by 13.6% in healthy rats. Over the same period, body weight decreased by 4.9% in the damaged rats and 3.2% in the healthy rats, with statistically significant differences compared to saline injections.
AI summary of the abstract below.
| Journal | Horm Res Paediatr, 2012 |
|---|---|
| Citations | 15 |
| Relative citation ratio | 0.48 |
| NIH percentile | 28 |
| Molecules | — |
| Conditions studied | Obesity |
Abstract
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.
Verbatim abstract via PubMed 22831885 ↗