Methylnaltrexone potentiates body weight and fat reduction with leptin

Chun-Su Yuan, MD, PhD; Shi Sun, PhD; Anoja Attele, MD; Chong-Zhi Wang, PhD; Robin Tong, BS; Robert J. Israel, MD

doi:10.5055/jom.2009.0037

Authors

Chun-Su Yuan, MD, PhD
Shi Sun, PhD
Anoja Attele, MD
Chong-Zhi Wang, PhD
Robin Tong, BS
Robert J. Israel, MD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2009.0037

Keywords:

leptin, opioids, naloxone, methylnaltrexone, body weight, adipose tissue, neonatal rat

Abstract

Objective: Leptin increases energy expenditure by enhancing systemic and brown adipose metabolism. In a neonatal rat model, retroperitoneal fat pad weight decreased significantly in leptin-treated animals, which reduced body weight. As opioids increase feeding, opioid antagonists may decrease food intake and body weight. However, interactions between leptin and the activity of peripheral opioids on body weight and fat accumulation have not been investigated. In this study, the authors evaluated the effects of naloxone (a nonselective opioid antagonist) and methylnaltrexone (a peripherally acting opioid antagonist) on the action of leptin in neonatal rats.
Results: Compared with control, the weight gain of pups given a single daily intraperitoneal injection of leptin 0.5 mg/kg, leptin 0.5 mg/kg plus naloxone 0.3 mg/kg, or leptin 0.5 mg/kg plus methylnaltrexone 3.0 mg/kg for 8 consecutive days was significantly reduced (all p < 0.01). Naloxone or methylnaltrexone significantly potentiated leptin’s effect on body weight (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01, respectively). After coadministration of leptin plus naloxone or leptin plus methylnaltrexone, weight reduction in the right retroperitoneal fat pads was also significant compared with the reduction after leptin alone (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01, respectively).
Conclusions: The data suggest the existence of a peripheral opioid-related mechanism in leptinactive modulation of body weight.

Author Biographies

Chun-Su Yuan, MD, PhD

Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois; Committee on Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacogenomics, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.

Shi Sun, PhD

Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.

Anoja Attele, MD

Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.

Chong-Zhi Wang, PhD

Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.

Robin Tong, BS

Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.

Robert J. Israel, MD

Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, New York.

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