title: 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.
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, alpha(1) adrenoceptor antagonist) and partially antagonized by co-administration of SCH23390 (0.03 mg/kg, DA D(1) receptor antagonist). In contrast, tesofensine-induced hypophagia was not affected by RX821002 (0.3 mg/kg, alpha(2) adrenoceptor antagonist), haloperidol (0.03 mg/kg, D(2) receptor antagonist), NGB2904 (0.1 mg/kg, D(3) receptor antagonist), or ritanserin (0.03 mg/kg, 5-HT(2A/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 alpha(1) adrenoceptor and DA D(1) receptor function.
authors.affiliation: CNS Pharmacology-Psychiatry, Neurosearch A/S, Ballerup, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Anne Marie D
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Axel
authors.forename: Jens D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Mikkelsen
authors.forename: Henrik H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Hansen
mesh_terms: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D011224:Prazosin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D001067:Appetite Depressants; D001552:Benzazepines; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1; D017447:Receptors, Dopamine D1; C534628:SCH 23390; C518479:Tesofensine; D011224:Prazosin