The acute and subchronic effects of a brain-penetrating, neurotensin-1 receptor agonist on feeding, body weight and temperature

The neurotensin-1 (NT1) receptor has been implicated in mediating a number of important neurotensin effects. We have found that PD149163, a selective, brain-penetrating, NT1 receptor agonist, produces a number of therapeutic-like preclinical effects after peripheral administration including pro-cognitive, antipsychotic and anxiolytic effects. In this study, we investigated PD149163's effect on food intake and thermal regulation, two physiological processes thought to be mediated by NT1 receptors. Brown Norway rats and leptin-deficient mice (ob/ob) mice were administered subcutaneous PD149163 (0, 0.1, 0.25, or 1 mg/kg) for ten consecutive days. Weight and 24-h food intake were measured in mice and rats and core body temperature was also measured in rats. PD149163 significantly decreased food intake in rats and ob/ob mice and no tolerance was demonstrated to this effect over the course of the study. PD149163-treated animals exhibited weight loss compared to saline-treated animals. PD149163 produced hypothermia as expected but this effect did show tolerance over the course of the study, unlike feeding. The results suggest that NT1 receptor agonists are candidates for treatment of obesity and that somewhat different mechanisms are involved in NT1-induced feeding regulation and temperature regulation. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.