Insulin normalization as an approach to the pharmacological treatment of obesity

Hyperinsulinemia and exaggerated insulin response to glucose are among the hallmarks of obesity. However, the role of hyperinsulinemia in the etiology and maintenance of obesity has been controversial. If hyperinsulinemia plays a critical role as proposed, then its reversal may have therapeutic potential. To test this hypothesis, the activity of Ro 23-7637, (4-(2,2-diphenylethenyl)-1-[1-oxo-9-(3-pyridinyl) nonyl]piperidine), which partially normalizes plasma insulin by an action on pancreatic islets from obese rats, was assessed. When islets were cultured for 2 days with 10 microM Ro 23-7637, a significant reduction in the exaggerated glucose-induced insulin secretion was observed. When islets from lean rats were exposed to Ro 23-7637, no reduction in insulin secretion was observed. The effects of oral administration of Ro 23-7637 were assessed in Zucker and diet-induced obese rats in doses ranging from 5 to 90 mg/kg/day. Dose-related reductions were observed in: 1) glucose-induced insulin secretion; 2) basal insulin concentration; 3) daily food intake; and 4) bodyweight gain. In diet-induced obese rats, selective mobilization of fat, maintenance of body protein, and decreased energetic efficiency were also observed. An association between the partial normalization of glucose-induced insulin responses and reductions of basal insulin, reduced rates of body weight gain or body weight loss and decreased food intake was observed in obese rats. Therefore, these studies indicate that Ro 23-7637 is an orally active, efficacious antiobesity agent.