The peptide hemopressin acts through CB1 cannabinoid receptors to reduce food intake in rats and mice

Abstract

Hemopressin is a short, nine amino acid peptide (H-Pro-Val-Asn-Phe-Lys-Leu- Leu-Ser-His-OH) isolated from rat brain that behaves as an inverse agonist at the cannabinoid receptor CB1, and is shown here to inhibit agonist-induced receptor internalization in a heterologous cell model. Since this peptide occurs naturally in the rodent brain, we determined its effect on appetite, an established central target of cannabinoid signaling. Hemopressin dose-dependently decreases night-time food intake in normal male rats and mice, as well as in obese ob/ob male mice, when administered centrally or systemically, without causing any obvious adverse side effects. The normal, behavioral satiety sequence i..