Objectives: 

Energy intake and expenditure are regulated by different signals. One of the molecules implicated is Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP, or amylin), one of the major secretory products of β-cells of the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. It is a peptide that inhibits insulin and glucagon secretion, and can also act through the brain decreasing food intake and inhibiting gastric emptying. In this study, we investigated the potential effects of the chronic central administration of amylin on energy homeostasis.

Materials: 

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered chronically with amylin or saline by a mini-osmotic pump connected to an intracerebroventricular cannula. Rats were monitored in the indirect calorimetry system and several parameters (O2 consumption, CO2 production, daily intake, body weight...) were assessed.

Results: 

Chronic central administration of amylin did not cause significant differences in body weight, energy expenditure, locomotor activity and respiratory quotient. However, there is a greater loss of fat in rats treated with amylin respect saline

Conclusions: 

Chronic central infusion of amylin only caused a slight decrease in fat mass, without any difference in any of the measured parameters