Insulin detemir causes lesser weight gain in comparison to insulin glargine: role on hypothalamic NPY and galanin
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Updated: Apr 24, 2026

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Published on: December 7, 2017
Mohammad Ishraq Zafar1, Cuining Hu1, Danfeng Liu1
1Department of Endocrinology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, China.
Objective:
Compared with other insulin analogues, insulin detemir induces less weight gain. This study investigated whether this effect was achieved by influencing the hypothalamic appetite regulators neuropeptide Y (NPY) and galanin (GAL).
Methods:
Type 2 diabetic rat models were established with a high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of STZ. All rats were divided into NC, DM, DM+DE and DM+GLA groups. Glycemic levels of all study groups were checked at study onset and after 4 weeks of insulin treatment. Food intake and body weight were monitored during treatment. After 4 weeks, the hypothalamus of rats was examined for NPY and GAL mRNA and protein expression.
Results:
After 4 weeks of treatment, compared with the DM+GLA group, the DM+DE group exhibited less food intake (P < 0.05) and less weight gain (P < 0.05), but showed similar glycemic control. The expression of hypothalamic NPY and GAL at both mRNA and protein level were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the DM+DE group.
Conclusion:
Insulin detemir decreased food intake in type 2 diabetic rats, which led to reduced weight gain when compared to insulin glargine treatment. This effect is likely due to downregulation of hypothalamic NPY and GAL.
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