GLP-1 receptor activation modulates appetite- and reward-related brain areas in humans
Clinical Trial News Thursday, August 7th, 2014Diabetes July 28, 2014
Gut-derived hormones, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), have been proposed to relay information to the brain to regulate appetite. GLP-1 receptor agonists, currently used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), improve glycemic control and stimulate satiety leading to decreases in food intake and bodyweight. We hypothesized that food intake reduction following GLP-1 receptor activation is mediated through appetite- and reward-related brain areas. Obese T2DM patients, normoglycemic obese and lean individuals (n=48) were studied in a randomized, crossover, placebo-controlled trial. Using functional MRI we determined the acute effects of intravenous administration of the GLP-1 receptor agonist exenatide, with or without prior GLP-1 receptor blockade using exendin9-39, on brain responses to food pictures, during a somatostatin pancreatic-pituitary clamp. Obese T2DM patients and normoglycemic obese vs. lean subjects showed increased brain responses to food pictures in appetite- and reward-related brain regions (insula and amygdala). Read More
