Porc miniature modèle pour l’innovation thérapeutique – stimulation vagale et syndrome métabolique

Abstract

Miniature pig as a model for translational therapy – Vagal stimulation and metabolic syndrome Therapeutic innovation against morbid obesity requires alternate animal models such as the diet induced obese miniature pig. While it does not develop the panel of diseases associated with obesity such as diabetes, atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome, central and peripheral nervous signals are altered similar to humans. These peculiarities make the porcine model of significant interest to study the consequences of chronic vagal stimulation (VNS) on the recovery of the nervous traffic between the gut and the brain. VNS reduced food intake and increased resting energy expenditure resulting in a reduction of weight gain. Insulin sensitivity was recovered as a consequence of improved glucose uptake of key organs for glucose homeostasis. These effects were the consequence of a direct and indirect modulation of limbic networks via a further improvement of mesolimbic dopamine trafficking.