Publication

Towards the therapeutic use of intranasal neuropeptide administration in metabolic and cognitive disorders

Journal Paper/Review - Aug 7, 2008

Units
PubMed
Doi

Citation
Hallschmid M, Benedict C, Schultes B, Perras B, Fehm H, Kern W, Born J. Towards the therapeutic use of intranasal neuropeptide administration in metabolic and cognitive disorders. Regulatory peptides 2008; 149:79-83.
Type
Journal Paper/Review (English)
Journal
Regulatory peptides 2008; 149
Publication Date
Aug 7, 2008
Issn Print
0167-0115
Pages
79-83
Brief description/objective

The nose provides an effective way for delivering neuropeptides to the central nervous system, bypassing the blood-brain barrier and avoiding systemic side effects. Thereby intranasal neuropeptide administration enables the modulation of central nervous signaling pathways of body weight regulation and cognitive functions. Central nervous control of energy homeostasis is assumed to rely on hypothalamic neuropeptidergic pathways that are triggered by the peripheral adiposity signals insulin and leptin conveying the amount of body fat to the brain. Melanocortins, including alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone (alpha-MSH), are essential for inducing anorexigenic/catabolic effects, i.e. for inhibiting caloric intake and increasing energy expenditure. Insulin, in addition to its function as an adiposity signal, also influences memory formation. Here we present a series of studies on the intranasal administration of MSH/ACTH4-10, a melanocortin receptor agonist, and of insulin. Prolonged administration of MSH/ACTH4-10 induced weight loss in normal-weight, but not in overweight humans. Intranasal insulin reduced body fat and improved memory functions in the absence of adverse peripheral side effects. Our results may contribute to the future development of therapeutic strategies in disorders like obesity and cognitive impairments that derive from dysfunctions of central nervous neuropeptidergic pathways.