Exendin-4 potently decreases ghrelin levels in fasting rats

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

  • Diego Pérez-Tilve
  • Lucas González-Matías
  • Mayte Alvarez-Crespo
  • Leiras Gonzalez, Roberto
  • Sulay Tovar
  • Carlos Diéguez
  • Federico Mallo

Ghrelin is a potent orexigenic and adipogenic hormone that strongly influences fat deposition and the generation of hunger in obesity. Indeed, hyperghrelinemia appears to promote an increase in food intake as seen in Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). Exendin (Ex)-4 is an agonist of the glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 receptor (GLP-1r) that has anorexigenic and fat-reducing properties. Here, we report that Ex-4 reduces the levels of ghrelin by up to 74% in fasted rats. These effects are dose dependent and long lasting (up to 8 h), and they can be detected after both central and peripheral administration of Ex-4. Suppression of ghrelin was neither mimicked by GLP-1(7-36)-NH(2) nor blocked by the GLP-1r antagonist Ex-(9-39). Moreover, it was independent of the levels of leptin and insulin. The decrease in ghrelin levels induced by Ex-4 may explain the reduced food intake in fasted rats, justifying the more potent anorexigenic effects of Ex-4 when compared with GLP-1. As well as the potential benefits of Ex-4 in type 2 diabetes, the potent effects of Ex-4 on ghrelin make it tempting to speculate that Ex-4 could offer a therapeutic option for PWS and other syndromes characterized by substantial amounts of circulating ghrelin.

Original languageEnglish
JournalDiabetes
Volume56
Issue number1
Pages (from-to)143-51
Number of pages9
ISSN0012-1797
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2007

    Research areas

  • Animals, Cerebral Ventricles/drug effects, Exenatide, Fasting, Ghrelin, Humans, Injections, Intraventricular, Kinetics, Male, Peptide Hormones/blood, Peptides/administration & dosage, Prader-Willi Syndrome/drug therapy, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Venoms/administration & dosage

ID: 249307859