Absence of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor does not affect the metabolic phenotype of mice with liver-specific G(s)α deficiency

Endocrinology. 2011 Sep;152(9):3343-50. doi: 10.1210/en.2011-0012. Epub 2011 Jul 19.

Abstract

The stimulatory G protein α-subunit (G(s)α) couples hormone and other receptors to the generation of intracellular cAMP. We previously showed that mice with liver-specific G(s)α deficiency [liver-specific G(s)α knockout (LGsKO) mice] had reduced adiposity and improved glucose tolerance associated with increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, pancreatic islet hyperplasia, and very high serum glucagon and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) levels. Because GLP-1 is known to stimulate insulin secretion and to have effects on energy balance, we mated LGsKO mice with germline GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) knockout mice (Glp1r(-/-)) and compared LGsKO to double-knockout (LGs/Glp1r(-/-)) mice to determine the contribution of excess GLP-1R signaling to the LGsKO phenotype. Loss of the GLP-1R failed to reverse most of the metabolic features of LGsKO mice, including reduced fat mass, increased glucose tolerance, and second-phase glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, islet cell hyperplasia, and very high glucagon and GLP-1 levels. However, loss of GLP-1R impaired first-phase insulin secretion in mice with or without liver-specific G(s)α deficiency. Thus, excess GLP-1 action (or at least through GLP-1R) does not contribute to the LGsKO metabolic phenotype, and other unknown factors involved in the cross talk between the liver G(s)α/cAMP pathway and pancreatic islet function need to be further elucidated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Basal Metabolism / physiology
  • Body Composition / physiology
  • Eating / physiology
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs / genetics
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs / metabolism*
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / genetics
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / metabolism
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor
  • Glucose Tolerance Test
  • Insulin / metabolism
  • Islets of Langerhans / metabolism*
  • Liver / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Phenotype
  • Receptors, Glucagon / genetics
  • Receptors, Glucagon / metabolism*

Substances

  • Glp1r protein, mouse
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor
  • Insulin
  • Receptors, Glucagon
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gs