Are you John Rømer?

Claim your profile

Publications (3)9.65 Total impact

  • Article: Expression of the GLP-1 receptor in mouse, rat, and human pancreas.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: We studied the intra-islet localization of the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor (GLP-1R) by colocalization studies of the GLP-1R mRNA and protein with islet cell hormones in mice, rats, and humans. In contrast to previous reports, we show that the GLP-1R is selectively located on the beta cells. The localization of GLP-1R in islets and ducts was studied using ISH and double and triple fluorescence microscopy. In normal pancreatic tissue from mice and rats, GLP-1R mRNA was only detectable in the beta cells. Double and triple immunofluorescence using two different GLP-1R antisera and combinations of insulin, glucagon, pancreatic polypeptide, and somatostatin showed that GLP-1R protein is almost exclusively colocalized with insulin. The same pattern was observed in human pancreas, but the GLP-1R expression was more heterogeneous, with populations of insulin immunoreactive cells with high and low expression. This is the first time that the GLP-1R has been localized in human islets. Furthermore, GLP-1R immunoreactivity was found in the pancreatic ducts in mouse, rat, and human pancreas. As an important confirmation of the specificity of our methods, we found no signals for GLP-1R mRNA or protein in pancreatic tissue from gene-targeted GLP-1R-deficient mice. In conclusion, our data suggest that the GLP-1 receptor is restricted to the pancreatic beta cells and the lack of receptor immunoreactivity on delta cells cannot be explained suitably to correspond with published in vivo and in vitro data. This manuscript contains online supplemental material at http://www.jhc.org. Please visit this article online to view these materials.
    Journal of Histochemistry and Cytochemistry 07/2008; 56(9):841-51. · 2.72 Impact Factor
  • Article: GLP-1 derivative liraglutide in rats with beta-cell deficiencies: influence of metabolic state on beta-cell mass dynamics.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: (1) Liraglutide is a long-acting GLP-1 derivative, designed for once daily administration in type II diabetic patients. To investigate the effects of liraglutide on glycemic control and beta-cell mass in rat models of beta-cell deficiencies, studies were performed in male Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats and in 60% pancreatectomized rats. (2) When liraglutide was dosed s.c. at 150 microg kg-1 b.i.d. for 6 weeks in ZDF rats 6-8 weeks of age at study start, diabetes development was markedly attenuated. Blood glucose was approximately 12 mm lower compared to vehicle (P<0.0002), and plasma insulin was 2-3-fold higher during a normal 24-h feeding period (P<0.001). Judged by pair feeding, approximately 53% of the antihyperglycemic effect observed on 24-h glucose profiles was mediated by a reduction in food intake, which persisted throughout the study and averaged 16% (P<0.02). (3) Histological analyses revealed that beta-cell mass and proliferation were significantly lower in prediabetic animals still normoglycemic after 2 weeks treatment compared to vehicle-treated animals that had begun to develop diabetes. When the treatment period was 6 weeks, the liraglutide-treated animals were no longer completely normoglycemic and the beta-cell mass was significantly increased compared to overtly diabetic vehicle-treated animals, while beta-cell proliferation was unaffected. (4) In the experiments with 60% pancreatectomized rats, 8 days treatment with liraglutide resulted in a significantly lower glucose excursion in response to oral glucose compared to vehicle treatment. Again, part of the antihyperglycemic effect was due to reduced food intake. No effect of liraglutide on beta-cell mass was observed in these virtually normoglycemic animals. (5) In conclusion, treatment with liraglutide has marked antihyperglycemic effects in rodent models of beta-cell deficiencies, and the in vivo effect of liraglutide on beta-cell mass may in part depend on the metabolic state of the animals.
    British Journal of Pharmacology 09/2003; 140(1):123-32. · 4.41 Impact Factor
  • Article: Ups and downs for neuropeptides in body weight homeostasis: pharmacological potential of cocaine amphetamine regulated transcript and pre-proglucagon-derived peptides.
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Although most humans experience an underlying upwards drift of the body-weight set-point, body weight appears tightly regulated throughout life. The present review describes the structural basis of the adipostat and hypothesise, which components may constitute available targets for pharmacotherapy of excess body weight. Hypothalamic neurones constitute the major components of the body weight homeostasis maintaining device. Together with neurones of the nucleus of the solitary tract, neurones of the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus constitute the sensory components of the adipostat. The arcuate nucleus neurones respond to circulating levels of leptin and insulin, both of which reflect the levels of energy stored as triacylglycerol in adipocytes. The arcuate nucleus projects heavily to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus. Neurones of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus are hypothesised to constitute, at least partly, the adipostat motor pattern generator, which upon stimulation activates either net anabolic or catabolic physiological responses. The overall sensitivity of the adipostat is influenced by gain setting neurones hypothesised to be located in the dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus and lateral hypothalamic area. Cocaine amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) peptides and pre-proglucagon derived peptides, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) are catabolic neurotransmitters synthesised in neurones of the arcuate nucleus and the nucleus of the solitary tract, respectively. The present review summarises the available evidence that both families of peptides constitute endogenous transmitters mediating satiety and touch upon potential pharmacological exploitation of this knowledge.
    European Journal of Pharmacology 05/2002; 440(2-3):159-72. · 2.52 Impact Factor