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Skeletal muscle is the largest organ in the human body by mass, making up approximately 40 % of total body weight. Furthermore, it accounts for the majority of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and is also highly involved in lipid metabolism. Lipids can accumulate in muscle through different distinct depots: as intramyocellular lipids (IMCL), stored as triglyceride-containing droplets within muscle cells and as intermuscular adipose tissue (IMAT), located between muscle fiber bundles beneath the deep muscle fascia. The muscular fat depots have been positively correlated with an increased body fat content in obesity, just like subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue (SAT and VAT, respectively). IMCL, IMAT, VAT and SAT have additionally been linked to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D).

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The central amygdala gates exogenous glucagon-like peptide 1 signals

Miguel Duran, Ningxiang Zeng, Elam J. Cutts, Anusha Polamarasetty, ... J. Andrew Hardaway

Nuclei within the limbic system like the central amygdala (CeA) play a critical role in mediating fear, motivation, reward, and appetitive behavior. Although previous reports demonstrate the presence of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) in limbic nuclei, how limbic neurons mediate the actions of systemically administrated GLP-1R agonists is unclear. In this study, we investigated the CeA's response to peripherally administered GLP-1R agonist Exendin-4 (Ex-4) in vivo, and determined the functional requirement of select CeA neuron populations in acute Ex-4 induced hypophagia. Using fiber photometry, we observed that Ex-4 promoted a rapid and lasting activation of CeA neurons that was blocked by pretreatment with the GLP-1R antagonist Exendin-9. We then tested the functional requirement of CeA neuron activation in mediating Ex-4 induced hypophagia of standard grain chow using inhibitory chemogenetics. Chemogenetic inhibition of all CeA neurons significantly suppressed the hypophagic actions of Ex-4. Then using selective mouse Cre-drivers, we found that chemogenetic inhibition of protein kinase c delta (PrkcdCeA) and GLP-1R (Glp1rCeA), but not somatostatin (SstCeA), neurons also attenuates the full hypophagic effect of Ex-4. Having observed that inhibition of Glp1rCeA modestly attenuated Ex-4 induced hypophagia of standard chow, we then tested whether these neurons might mediate Ex-4 suppression of energy-dense, palatable diet. We used intermittent high-fat diet (HFD) access and found that inhibition of Glp1rCeA neurons significantly rescued the reduction of HFD consumption by Ex-4. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the CeA responds to peripherally administered GLP-1R agonists and that multiple CeA neuron populations are required for the complete effect of GLP-1R agonist mediated hypophagia.

The central amygdala gates exogenous glucagon-like peptide 1 signals

Articles in Press

The central amygdala gates exogenous glucagon-like peptide 1 signals

Miguel Duran, Ningxiang Zeng, Elam J. Cutts, Anusha Polamarasetty, ... J. Andrew Hardaway

Nuclei within the limbic system like the central amygdala (CeA) play a critical role in mediating fear, motivation, reward, and appetitive behavior. Although previous reports demonstrate the presence of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) in limbic nuclei, how limbic neurons mediate the actions of systemically administrated GLP-1R agonists is unclear. In this study, we investigated the CeA's response to peripherally administered GLP-1R agonist Exendin-4 (Ex-4) in vivo, and determined the functional requirement of select CeA neuron populations in acute Ex-4 induced hypophagia. Using fiber photometry, we observed that Ex-4 promoted a rapid and lasting activation of CeA neurons that was blocked by pretreatment with the GLP-1R antagonist Exendin-9. We then tested the functional requirement of CeA neuron activation in mediating Ex-4 induced hypophagia of standard grain chow using inhibitory chemogenetics. Chemogenetic inhibition of all CeA neurons significantly suppressed the hypophagic actions of Ex-4. Then using selective mouse Cre-drivers, we found that chemogenetic inhibition of protein kinase c delta (PrkcdCeA) and GLP-1R (Glp1rCeA), but not somatostatin (SstCeA), neurons also attenuates the full hypophagic effect of Ex-4. Having observed that inhibition of Glp1rCeA modestly attenuated Ex-4 induced hypophagia of standard chow, we then tested whether these neurons might mediate Ex-4 suppression of energy-dense, palatable diet. We used intermittent high-fat diet (HFD) access and found that inhibition of Glp1rCeA neurons significantly rescued the reduction of HFD consumption by Ex-4. Collectively, these data demonstrate that the CeA responds to peripherally administered GLP-1R agonists and that multiple CeA neuron populations are required for the complete effect of GLP-1R agonist mediated hypophagia.

The central amygdala gates exogenous glucagon-like peptide 1 signals

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13th
Helmholtz Diabetes Conference 

Munich, 21-23. Sep 2026                                                                                                                             

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