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Hunger and appetite are associated with fluctuations in glucose levels through mechanisms that remain incompletely understood. Hunger elicits epigastric sensations (“hunger pain”) that coincide with rhythmic gastric contractions, which intensify during hypoglycemia. These observations led to the glucostatic hypothesis, which proposed that glucose availability and utilization regulate food intake. Subsequent studies demonstrated that dynamic changes in blood glucose levels precede meal initiation and influence feeding behavior. Together, these findings provided early evidence for a physiological link between glycemia and appetite regulation.

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Brainstem GLP-1 neurons modulate physiological satiation and drive sustained weight loss in obese mice

Wanqing Jiang, Cecilia Skoug, Ian Rodrigues, Ernesto Ciabatti, ... Stefan Trapp

Brainstem GLP-1 neurons modulate physiological satiation and drive sustained weight loss in obese mice

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) activation in the brain strongly reduces appetite, but most brain GLP-1Rs are not accessible for systemically administered GLP-1R agonists. Acute activation of nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) GLP-1 neurons, known as preproglucagon (PPG) neurons, strongly suppresses food intake separate from GLP-1R agonists. However, it is unknown if chronic stimulation of PPG neurons is a viable strategy for appetite suppression, or if obesity disrupts their function. Here we demonstrate that PPG neurons in the NTS and intermediate reticular nucleus (IRT) determine meal size, and that their total number is inversely correlated with bodyweight gain. We report that PPGNTS and PPGIRT neurons receive distinct monosynaptic inputs, but have convergent efferent projection targets throughout the brain, and that combined ablation of both populations delays the onset of physiological satiation to a degree sufficient to promote weight gain under ad libitum chow fed conditions. Crucially, chronic daily chemogenetic activation of PPGNTS+IRT neurons drives robust and sustained hypophagia and weight loss in obese mice without notable adverse effects, demonstrating their value as targets for obesity pharmacotherapy.

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Brainstem GLP-1 neurons modulate physiological satiation and drive sustained weight loss in obese mice

Wanqing Jiang, Cecilia Skoug, Ian Rodrigues, Ernesto Ciabatti, ... Stefan Trapp

Brainstem GLP-1 neurons modulate physiological satiation and drive sustained weight loss in obese mice

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) activation in the brain strongly reduces appetite, but most brain GLP-1Rs are not accessible for systemically administered GLP-1R agonists. Acute activation of nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) GLP-1 neurons, known as preproglucagon (PPG) neurons, strongly suppresses food intake separate from GLP-1R agonists. However, it is unknown if chronic stimulation of PPG neurons is a viable strategy for appetite suppression, or if obesity disrupts their function. Here we demonstrate that PPG neurons in the NTS and intermediate reticular nucleus (IRT) determine meal size, and that their total number is inversely correlated with bodyweight gain. We report that PPGNTS and PPGIRT neurons receive distinct monosynaptic inputs, but have convergent efferent projection targets throughout the brain, and that combined ablation of both populations delays the onset of physiological satiation to a degree sufficient to promote weight gain under ad libitum chow fed conditions. Crucially, chronic daily chemogenetic activation of PPGNTS+IRT neurons drives robust and sustained hypophagia and weight loss in obese mice without notable adverse effects, demonstrating their value as targets for obesity pharmacotherapy.

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13th
Helmholtz Diabetes Conference 

Munich, 21-23. Sep 2026                                                                                                                             

2024 impact factor: 6.6

You are what you eat

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