Liraglutide pharmacotherapy reduces body weight and improves glycemic control in juvenile obese / hyperglycemic male and female rats.

Aims To examine whether the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist liraglutide could be used in juvenile male and female rats as an anti-obesity/diabetic pharmaceutical to prevent not only adolescent obesity/hyperglycaemia, but also early-adult onset obesity. Material and Methods Pregnant dams were fed either standard chow or a high-fat, high-sucrose diet (HFSD) from gestational day 2, throughout pregnancy and lactation. Offspring were weaned onto the respective maternal diet. Juveniles received daily subcutaneous injection of liraglutide (50 mu g/kg, from postnatal day [PND]30 to PND40 and 200 mu g/kg from PND40 to PND60) or vehicle. Food intake, body weight and glycaemic levels were evaluated across the experimental period. Results Chronic liraglutide administration in juveniles prevented body weight gain in males and retained a normoglycaemic profile in both male and female rats. Conclusion These preclinical data suggest that maternal and early-life consumption of an HFSD increases caloric intake, body weight gain and hyperglycaemia, a collective set of unwanted metabolic effects that appear to be treatable in juveniles with liraglutide pharmacotherapy intervention.