Published in:
01-08-2010 | Short Communication
Angiotensin II type 1 receptor-independent beneficial effects of telmisartan on dietary-induced obesity, insulin resistance and fatty liver in mice
Published in: Diabetologia | Issue 8/2010
Login to get accessAbstract
Aims/hypothesis
Evidence suggests that telmisartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1) blocker and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ partial agonist, has beneficial actions that limit development of the metabolic syndrome and diabetes. However, the role played by AT1 inhibition in metabolic effects elicited by telmisartan remains uncertain. Here we isolated the metabolic effects of telmisartan from AT1 antagonism.
Methods
Male At1a (also known as Agtr1a)-deficient mice were fed a standard diet or 60% high-fat diet; those on high-fat diet were co-administered telmisartan (3 mg kg−1 day−1 by oral gavage) or vehicle for 12 weeks.
Results
In At1a-null mice, telmisartan prevented high-fat-diet-induced increases in (1) body weight, epididymal and inguinal white adipose tissue weight, adipocyte size and plasma leptin concentration; (2) plasma glucose and insulin concentrations and HOMA index; and (3) liver weight and triacylglycerol content. Insulin tolerance testing also indicated that telmisartan improved the high-fat-diet-induced reduction of glucose-lowering by insulin.
Conclusions/interpretation
The present findings demonstrate beneficial, AT1-independent effects of the AT1 blocker telmisartan on dietary-induced obesity, insulin resistance and fatty liver in animals.