title: L-arginine promotes gut hormone release and reduces food intake in rodents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the anorectic effect of L-arginine (L-Arg) in rodents.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the effects of L-Arg on food intake, and the role of the anorectic gut hormones glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY), the G-protein-coupled receptor family C group 6 member A (GPRC6A) and the vagus nerve in mediating these effects in rodents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oral gavage of L-Arg reduced food intake in rodents, and chronically reduced cumulative food intake in diet-induced obese mice. Lack of the GPRC6A in mice and subdiaphragmatic vagal deafferentation in rats did not influence these anorectic effects. L-Arg stimulated GLP-1 and PYY release in vitro and in vivo. Pharmacological blockade of GLP-1 and PYY receptors did not influence the anorectic effect of L-Arg. L-Arg-mediated PYY release modulated net ion transport across the gut mucosa. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) and intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of L-Arg suppressed food intake in rats.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  L-Arg reduced food intake and stimulated gut hormone release in rodents. The anorectic effect of L-Arg is unlikely to be mediated by GLP-1 and PYY, does not require GPRC6A signalling and is not mediated via the vagus. I.c.v. and i.p. administration of L-Arg suppressed food intake in rats, suggesting that L-Arg may act on the brain to influence food intake. Further work is required to determine the mechanisms by which L-Arg suppresses food intake and its utility in the treatment of obesity.
authors: Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Alamshah
authors: Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors: A K
authors: AK
authors: McGavigan
authors: Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Spreckley
authors: Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors: J S
authors: JS
authors: Kinsey-Jones
authors: Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Amin
authors: Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
authors: I R
authors: IR
authors: Tough
authors: Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors: H C
authors: HC
authors: O'Hara
authors: Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Moolla
authors: Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Banks
authors: Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: France
authors: AstraZeneca R&D, Mölndal, Sweden.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Hyberg
authors: Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Norton
authors: Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors: W
authors: W
authors: Cheong
authors: AstraZeneca R&D, Mölndal, Sweden.|Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Lehmann
authors: Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors: S R
authors: SR
authors: Bloom
authors: Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
authors: H M
authors: HM
authors: Cox
authors: Section of Endocrinology and Investigative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK.
authors: K G
authors: KG
authors: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000009:adverse effects; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / Q000819:agonists* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009765:Obesity / Q000178:diet therapy* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019894:Peptide YY / Q000819:agonists* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000819:agonists / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015431:Weight Loss / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D001067:Appetite Depressants; C515750:GPRC6A protein, mouse; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D019894:Peptide YY; D052216:Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; D001120:Arginine
keywords: GLP-1; animal pharmacology; body composition; energy regulation; obesity therapy