Methylnaltrexone potentiates body weight and fat reduction with leptin.
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 leptin-active modulation of body weight.
Yuan
Chun-Su
CS
Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago, Illinois, USA
Sun
Shi
S
Attele
Anoja
A
Wang
Chong-Zhi
CZ
Tong
Robin
R
Israel
Robert J
RJ
D050154:Adiposity / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004357:Drug Synergism; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects*; D020738:Leptin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects*
D020738:Leptin; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C032257:methylnaltrexone; D009271:Naltrexone