Novel acylethanolamide derivatives that modulate body weight through enhancement of hypothalamic pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) and/or decreased neuropeptide Y (NPY)

J Med Chem. 2013 Mar 14;56(5):1811-29. doi: 10.1021/jm300484d. Epub 2013 Mar 1.

Abstract

Newly synthesized acylethanolamide derivatives oleoyl-L-valinolamide (1), oleoyl-D-valinolamide (2), elaidoyl-L-valinolamide (3), elaidoyl-D-valinolamide (4) stearoyl-L-valinolamide (5), and palmitoyl-L-valinolamide (6) were investigated in mice as antiobesity compounds. Compounds 1, 2, 5, 6 significantly decreased body weight by 6.57% following eight injections of 1 mg/kg i.p. during 39 days, while 3 and 4 showed no such activity. Receptor binding indicated that no compound activated CB1, CB2, PPARα, or TRPV1 receptors. Hypothalamic RT-PCR showed that mRNA expression of the anorexigenic genes POMC and CART was up-regulated by 1, 2, 5 and 1, 2, respectively, while that of the orexigenic genes NPY and CaMKK2 was down-regulated by the respective compounds 1, 5, 6 and 1, 2, 5. Oleoyl-L-valinolamide enhances anorectic pathways and lead to decreased glucose levels, enhanced locomotor activity, and improved cognition. Effects of oleoyl-L-valinolamide on weight were dose-dependent, and it could be given orally. 1, 2, 4, 5 down-regulated FAAH mRNA expression.

MeSH terms

  • Amides / pharmacology*
  • Animals
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / chemical synthesis*
  • Anti-Obesity Agents / pharmacology
  • Body Weight / drug effects*
  • Eating / drug effects
  • Ethanolamines / pharmacology
  • Female
  • Hypothalamus / drug effects
  • Hypothalamus / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Obese
  • Neuropeptide Y / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Neuropeptide Y / biosynthesis
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Oleic Acids / chemical synthesis*
  • Oleic Acids / pharmacology
  • Pro-Opiomelanocortin / biosynthesis*
  • Valine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Valine / chemical synthesis
  • Valine / pharmacology

Substances

  • Amides
  • Anti-Obesity Agents
  • Ethanolamines
  • Neuropeptide Y
  • Oleic Acids
  • oleoylvalinolamide
  • Pro-Opiomelanocortin
  • Valine