Liraglutide affects appetite and body weight through brain cells responding to GLP-1

Mice lacking GLP-1 receptors in glutamatergic neurons experienced a complete loss of liraglutide-induced weight loss and visceral illness.

• GLP-1 receptor agonists are FDA-approved drugs for weight loss.
• The specific neuronal sites where GLP-1R agonists affect appetite and body weight remain unclear.
• Deletion of GLP-1Rs in GABAergic neurons did not affect food intake or body weight in mice.
• Removal of GLP-1Rs from glutamatergic neurons eliminated the weight loss and visceral illness effects of liraglutide.
• This deletion also abolished the neural network activation typically observed after liraglutide administration.

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