Housing mice near vs. below thermoneutrality affects drug-induced weight loss but does not improve prediction of efficacy in humans.

Evaluation of weight loss drugs is usually performed in diet-induced obese mice housed at ∼22°C. This is a cold stress that increases energy expenditure by ∼35% compared to thermoneutrality (∼30°C), which may overestimate drug-induced weight loss. We investigated five anti-obesity mechanisms that have been in clinical development, comparing weight loss in mice housed at 22°C vs.

Evaluation of VGF peptides as potential anti-obesity candidates in pre-clinical animal models.

VGF is a peptide precursor expressed in neuroendocrine cells that is suggested to play a role in the regulation of energy homeostasis. VGF is proteolytically cleaved to yield multiple bioactive peptides. However, the specific actions of VGF-derived peptides on energy homeostasis remain unclear.

Selective cephalic upregulation of p-ERK, CamKII and p-CREB in response to glyceryl trinitrate infusion.

Background A common characteristic of migraine-inducing substances is that they cause headache and no pain in other areas of the body. Few studies have compared pain mechanisms in the trigeminal and spinal systems and, so far, no major differences have been noted. We compared signalling molecules in the trigeminal and spinothalamic system after infusion of the migraine-provoking substance glyceryltrinitrate.

Effect of PGD on middle meningeal artery and mRNA expression profile of L-PGD synthase and DP receptors in trigeminovascular system and other pain processing structures in rat brain.

Background: Prostaglandins (PGs), particularly prostaglandin D (PGD), E (PGE), and I (PGI), are considered to play a role in migraine pain. In humans, infusion of PGD causes lesser headache as compared to infusion of PGE and PGI. Follow-up studies in rats have shown that infusion of PGE and PGI dilate the middle meningeal artery (MMA), and mRNA for PGE and PGI receptors is present in rat trigeminovascular system (TVS) and in the brain structures associated with pain.