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Vagal Blocking for Obesity Control: a Possible Mechanism-Of-Action

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Obesity Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 14 September 2016

Abstract

Background

Recently, the US FDA has approved “vagal blocking therapy or vBLoc® therapy” as a new treatment for obesity. The aim of the present study was to study the mechanism-of-action of “VBLOC” in rat models.

Methods

Rats were implanted with VBLOC, an intra-abdominal electrical device with leads placed around gastric vagal trunks through an abdominal incision and controlled by wireless device. Body weight, food intake, hunger/satiety, and metabolic parameters were monitored by a comprehensive laboratory animal monitoring system. Brain-gut responses were analyzed physiologically.

Results

VBLOC reduced body weight and food intake, which was associated with increased satiety but not with decreased hunger. Brain activities in response to VBLOC included increased gene expression of leptin and CCKb receptors, interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor, and transforming growth factor β1 in the brainstem; increased CCK, somatostatin, and tyrosine hydroxylase in the hippocampus; increased NPY, AgRP, and Foxa2 in the hypothalamus; and reduced CCKb receptor, melanocortin 4 receptor, and insulin receptor in the hypothalamus. Plasma concentrations of CCK, gastrin, glucagon, GLP-1, and PYY and gastric acid secretion were unchanged in response to VBLOC.

Conclusions

Based on the present study, we may suggest that VBLOC induces satiety through vagal signaling, leading to reduced food intake and loss of body weight.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

    Helene Johannessen, Yosuke Kodama, Chun-Mei Zhao & Duan Chen

  2. Department of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg University, Gothenburg, Sweden

    David Revesz & Elinor Ben-Menachem

  3. Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, Scotland

    Nikki Cassie & Perry Barrett

  4. Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden

    Karolina P. Skibicka & Suzanne Dickson

  5. Department of Biomedical Sciences, the Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Jens Holst

  6. Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Jens Rehfeld

  7. Department of Translational Neuroscience, Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands

    Geoffrey van der Plasse & Roger Adan

  8. Center for Obesity Research, Department of Surgery, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway

    Bård Kulseng

Authors
  1. Helene Johannessen
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  2. David Revesz
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  13. Elinor Ben-Menachem
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  14. Chun-Mei Zhao
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  15. Duan Chen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Duan Chen.

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Conflict of Interest

Authors 1–7, 9–15 have nothing to disclose in connection with this study.

Author 8 has received grants from Novo Nordisk, Zealand Pharmaceuticals, AstraZeneca, Sanofi, MSD, GSK, Intarcia, Norvartis, and Hamni, outside the submitted work.

Ethical Approval

All applicable institutional and/or national guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

Informed Consent

Does not apply.

Additional information

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11695-016-2370-2.

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Johannessen, H., Revesz, D., Kodama, Y. et al. Vagal Blocking for Obesity Control: a Possible Mechanism-Of-Action. OBES SURG 27, 177–185 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11695-016-2278-x

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