GLP-1 Receptor Signaling Has Different Effects on the Perikarya and Axons of the Hypophysiotropic Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Synthesizing Neurons in Male Mice

Background: Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) is involved in the regulation of energy and glucose homeostasis. As GLP-1 has similar effects on the energy homeostasis as the hypophysiotropic thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) neurons that regulate the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, we raised the possibility that the TRH neurons are involved in the mediation of the effects of GLP-1. Therefore, the relationship and interaction of the GLP-1 system and the TRH neurons of the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were studied. Methods: To examine the anatomical and functional relationship of TRH neurons and the GLP-1 system in the PVN, immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization, in vitro patch-clamp electrophysiology, metabolic phenotyping, and explant experiments were performed. Results: Our data demonstrate that the TRH neurons of the PVN are innervated by GLP-1 producing neurons and express the GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R). However, not only do the GLP-1-innervated TRH neurons express GLP-1R but the receptor is also present in the axons of the hypophysiotropic TRH neurons in the blood-brain barrier free median eminence (ME) suggesting that peripherally derived GLP-1 may also influence the TRH neurons. In vitro, GLP-1 increased the firing rate of TRH neurons and depolarized them. In addition, GLP-1 directly stimulated the GABAergic input of a population of TRH neurons. Furthermore, GLP-1 inhibited the release of TRH from the hypophysiotropic axons in the ME. In vivo, peripheral GLP-1R agonist administration markedly inhibited the food intake and the energy expenditure, but had no effect on the TRH expression in the PVN and resulted in lower circulating free T4 levels. Conclusions: Our results indicate that GLP-1R activation has a direct stimulatory effect on TRH neurons in the PVN, but the activation of GLP-1R may also inhibit TRH neurons by facilitating their inhibitory inputs or by inhibiting the axon terminals of these cells in the ME. The innervation of TRH neurons by GLP-1 neurons suggests that TRH neurons might be influenced by both circulating GLP-1 and by GLP-1 neurons of the nucleus tractus solitarii. The lack of GLP-1R agonist-induced regulation of TRH neurons in vivo suggests that the HPT axis does not mediate the GLP-1R agonist-induced weight loss.