Hormonal
Brainstem cholecystokinin-expressing (CCKAP/NTS) neurons are required for the appetite-suppressing and body-weight-lowering effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists.
GLP-1 medications like semaglutide or liraglutide work by activating specific neurons in the brainstem (CCK neurons). If these neurons are blocked or non-functional, the medication will not suppress appetite or reduce body weight. This highlights that the drug's efficacy depends on this specific neural pathway.
We found that cholecystokinin-expressing neurons in the caudal brainstem are required for the anorectic and body weight-lowering effects of GLP-1RAs
Why this rating
High-quality mechanistic evidence using genetic loss-of-function (TeLC) in mice and non-human primates.
Source
Anorectic and aversive effects of GLP-1 receptor agonism are mediated by brainstem cholecystokinin neurons, and modulated by GIP receptor activation
Alessia Costa et al. · Molecular Metabolism · 2021
DOI 10.1016/j.molmet.2021.101407
More from this paper
- Brainstem cholecystokinin-expressing (CCKAP/NTS) neurons are necessary for GLP-1 receptor agonists to induce conditioned taste avoidance (nausea/aversive effects).Good
- GIP receptor activation reduces the recruitment of CCKAP/NTS neurons and selectively reduces conditioned taste avoidance without abolishing weight loss.Good
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