Tesofensine, a novel triple monoamine reuptake inhibitor, induces appetite suppression by indirect stimulation of alpha1 adrenoceptor and dopamine D1 receptor pathways in the diet-induced obese rat

Anne Marie Dixen Axel, Jens D Mikkelsen, Henrik H Hansen

31 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Tesofensine is a novel monoamine reuptake inhibitor that inhibits both norepinephrine, 5-HT, and dopamine (DA) reuptake function. Tesofensine is currently in clinical development for the treatment of obesity, however, the pharmacological basis for its strong effect in obesity management is not clarified. Using a rat model of diet-induced obesity (DIO), we characterized the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the appetite suppressive effect of tesofensine. DIO rats treated with tesofensine (2.0 mg/kg, s.c.) for 16 days showed significantly lower body weights than vehicle-treated DIO rats, being reflected by a marked hypophagic response. Using an automatized food intake monitoring system during a 12 h nocturnal test period, tesofensine-induced hypophagia was investigated further by studying the acute interaction of a variety of monoamine receptor antagonists with tesofensine-induced hypophagia in the DIO rat. Tesofensine (0.5-3.0 mg/kg, s.c.) induced a dose-dependent and marked decline in food intake with an ED 50 of 1.3 mg/kg. The hypophagic response of tesofensine (1.5 mg/kg, s.c.) was almost completely reversed by co-administration of prazosin (1.0 mg/kg, α1 adrenoceptor antagonist) and partially antagonized by co-administration of SCH23390 (0.03 mg/kg, DA D1 receptor antagonist). In contrast, tesofensine-induced hypophagia was not affected by RX821002 (0.3 mg/kg, α2 adrenoceptor antagonist), haloperidol (0.03 mg/kg, D2 receptor antagonist), NGB2904 (0.1 mg/kg, D3 receptor antagonist), or ritanserin (0.03 mg/kg, 5-HT2A/C receptor antagonist). Hence, the mechanism underlying the suppression of feeding by tesofensine in the obese rat is dependent on the drug's ability to indirectly stimulate α1 adrenoceptor and DA D1 receptor function.

Translated title of the contributionTesofensine, en ny triple monoamine optags hæmmer, inducerer sænkning af appetit ved indirekte stimulation af alpha1 adrenoceptor og dopamin D1 receptor signaleringsveje i en kost induceret fed rotte model
Original languageEnglish
JournalNeuropsychopharmacology
Volume35
Issue number7
Pages (from-to)1464-1476
Number of pages13
ISSN0893-133X
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2010
Externally publishedYes

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