L-arginine promotes gut hormone release and reduces food intake in rodents

A. Alamshah; A. K. Mcgavigan; E. Spreckley; J. S. Kinsey-Jones; A. Amin; I. R. Tough; H. C. O'Hara; A. Moolla; K. Banks; R. France; G. Hyberg; M. Norton; W. Cheong; A. Lehmann; S. R. Bloom; H. M. Cox; K. G. Murphy

doi:10.1111/dom.12644

L-arginine promotes gut hormone release and reduces food intake in rodents

A. Alamshah
, A. K. Mcgavigan
, E. Spreckley
, J. S. Kinsey-Jones
, A. Amin
, I. R. Tough
, H. C. O'Hara
, A. Moolla
, K. Banks
, R. France
, G. Hyberg
, M. Norton
, W. Cheong
, A. Lehmann
, S. R. Bloom
, H. M. Cox
, K. G. Murphy^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

45 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Aims: 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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	508-518
Number of pages	11
Journal	Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism
Volume	18
Issue number	5
Early online date	11 Feb 2016
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.12644
Publication status	Published - 01 May 2016
Externally published	Yes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

Animal pharmacology
Body composition
Energy regulation
GLP-1
Obesity therapy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Internal Medicine
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Endocrinology

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10.1111/dom.12644Licence: CC BY

L-arginine promotes gut hormone release and reduces food intake in rodents
Copyright 2026 the authors. This is an open access article published under a Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the author and source are cited.
Final published version, 919 KBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

Alamshah, A., Mcgavigan, A. K., Spreckley, E., Kinsey-Jones, J. S., Amin, A., Tough, I. R., O'Hara, H. C., Moolla, A., Banks, K., France, R., Hyberg, G., Norton, M., Cheong, W., Lehmann, A., Bloom, S. R., Cox, H. M., & Murphy, K. G. (2016). L-arginine promotes gut hormone release and reduces food intake in rodents. Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 18(5), 508-518. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.12644

@article{6acbab8e1f474a1d83fe6a4940f10439,

title = "L-arginine promotes gut hormone release and reduces food intake in rodents",

abstract = "Aims: 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.",

keywords = "Animal pharmacology, Body composition, Energy regulation, GLP-1, Obesity therapy",

author = "A. Alamshah and Mcgavigan, \{A. K.\} and E. Spreckley and Kinsey-Jones, \{J. S.\} and A. Amin and Tough, \{I. R.\} and O'Hara, \{H. C.\} and A. Moolla and K. Banks and R. France and G. Hyberg and M. Norton and W. Cheong and A. Lehmann and Bloom, \{S. R.\} and Cox, \{H. M.\} and Murphy, \{K. G.\}",

year = "2016",

month = may,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1111/dom.12644",

language = "English",

volume = "18",

pages = "508--518",

journal = "Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism",

issn = "1462-8902",

publisher = "John Wiley \& Sons Inc.",

number = "5",

}

Alamshah, A, Mcgavigan, AK, Spreckley, E, Kinsey-Jones, JS, Amin, A, Tough, IR, O'Hara, HC, Moolla, A, Banks, K, France, R, Hyberg, G, Norton, M, Cheong, W, Lehmann, A, Bloom, SR, Cox, HM & Murphy, KG 2016, 'L-arginine promotes gut hormone release and reduces food intake in rodents', Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, vol. 18, no. 5, pp. 508-518. https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.12644

TY - JOUR

T1 - L-arginine promotes gut hormone release and reduces food intake in rodents

AU - Alamshah, A.

AU - Mcgavigan, A. K.

AU - Spreckley, E.

AU - Kinsey-Jones, J. S.

AU - Amin, A.

AU - Tough, I. R.

AU - O'Hara, H. C.

AU - Moolla, A.

AU - Banks, K.

AU - France, R.

AU - Hyberg, G.

AU - Norton, M.

AU - Cheong, W.

AU - Lehmann, A.

AU - Bloom, S. R.

AU - Cox, H. M.

AU - Murphy, K. G.

PY - 2016/5/1

Y1 - 2016/5/1

N2 - Aims: 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.

AB - Aims: 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.

KW - Animal pharmacology

KW - Body composition

KW - Energy regulation

KW - GLP-1

KW - Obesity therapy

U2 - 10.1111/dom.12644

DO - 10.1111/dom.12644

M3 - Article

C2 - 26863991

AN - SCOPUS:84962925982

SN - 1462-8902

VL - 18

SP - 508

EP - 518

JO - Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism

JF - Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism

IS - 5

ER -

L-arginine promotes gut hormone release and reduces food intake in rodents

Abstract

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Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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