Comparison of independent and combined chronic anti-obese effects of NPY Y2 receptor agonist, PYY(3-36), and NPY Y5 receptor antagonist in diet-induced obese mice

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) and its family of peptides are thought to have a major role in the physiological control of energy homeostasis. Among five NPY receptors described, stimulation of the Y2 receptor (Y2R) or inhibition of the Y5 receptor (Y5R) has recently been shown to produce weight-lowering effects in obese rodents. The present study examined and compared the effects of a Y2R agonist, PYY(3-36), and a Y5R antagonist, alone and in combination, on food intake and body weight in diet-induced obese (DIO) mice. Acute intraperitoneal injection of PYY(3-36) dose-dependently reduced spontaneous feeding in lean and DIO mice. In contrast, acute oral administration of the Y5R antagonist had no effect on spontaneous feeding or the anorexigenic effects of PYY(3-36). In a chronic study, subcutaneous infusion of PYY(3-36) (1 mg/kg/day for 14 days) significantly reduced food intake and body weight in DIO mice. The Y5R antagonist (10 mg/kg/day for 14 days, orally) reduced body weight to the same extent as PYY(3-36) without a significant feeding reduction. Combined administration of PYY(3-36) and the Y5R antagonist resulted in a greater body weight reduction than treatment with either agent alone. The combined effects on food intake, body weight, and adiposity are almost the same as a hypothetical sum of the effects of each drug alone. These results illustrate that the combination of a Y2R agonist, PYY(3-36), and a Y5R antagonist resulted in additive effects on body weight and adiposity in DIO mice, suggesting that Y2R stimulation signal and Y5R blockade signal act by distinct pathways.