Long-term treatment with a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist reduces ethanol intake in male and female rats.

Vallöf D, Kalafateli AL, Jerlhag E

Translational psychiatry16 Jul 2020Cited by 62 (Europe PMC)

PMID32678077PMCIDPMC7367312DOI10.1038/s41398-020-00923-1PepBankPUB-32678077

Summary

Given the limited efficacy of available pharmacotherapies for treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD), the need for new medications is substantial. Preclinical studies have shown that acute administration of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists inhibits various ethanol-related behaviours, indicating this system as a potential target for AUD. However, the effects of long-term systemic treatment of GLP-1R agonists on ethanol intake in male and female rodents are to date unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effects of 9 or 5 weeks of once weekly administration of dulaglutide, a long-acting GLP-1R agonist, on ethanol intake in male and female rats. The ethanol intake during treatment discontinuation was also monitored. In an initial attempt to identify preliminary underlying mechanisms, the effects of 9 weeks of once weekly dulaglutide treatment on monoaminergic signalling in reward-related areas were explored in both sexes. We found that 9 or 5 weeks of once weekly dulaglutide treatment reduced ethanol intake and preference in male and female rats. Following discontinuation of dulaglutide treatment, the decrease in ethanol consumption was prolonged in males, but not females. We demonstrated that 9 weeks of dulaglutide treatment differentially influenced monoaminergic signalling in reward-related areas of male and female rats. Collectively, these data imply that the GLP-1R attracts interest as a potential molecular target in the medical treatment of AUD in humans: more specifically, dulaglutide should be evaluated as a potential medication for treatment thereof.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study5

5 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In male and female rats, repeated dulaglutide treatment reduced ethanol intake.
In plain wordsIn male and female rats, repeated dulaglutide treatment reduced alcohol intake.
Peptide
Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
Outcome
DecreaseEthanol intake
Study
ratn: not reported in source
male and female rats
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · systemic · 9 or 5 weeksAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
We found that 9 or 5 weeks of once weekly dulaglutide treatment reduced ethanol intake and preference in male and female rats.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Therefore, we investigated the effects of 9 or 5 weeks of once weekly administration of dulaglutide, a long-acting GLP-1R agonist, on ethanol intake in male and female rats.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3267807701
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In male and female rats, repeated dulaglutide treatment reduced ethanol preference.
In plain wordsIn male and female rats, repeated dulaglutide treatment reduced alcohol preference.
Peptide
Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
Outcome
DecreaseEthanol preference
Study
ratn: not reported in source
male and female rats
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · systemic · 9 or 5 weeksAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
We found that 9 or 5 weeks of once weekly dulaglutide treatment reduced ethanol intake and preference in male and female rats.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Therefore, we investigated the effects of 9 or 5 weeks of once weekly administration of dulaglutide, a long-acting GLP-1R agonist, on ethanol intake in male and female rats.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3267807702
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In male rats, reduced ethanol consumption persisted after dulaglutide discontinuation.
In plain wordsIn male rats, reduced alcohol intake persisted after dulaglutide treatment stopped.
Peptide
Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
Outcome
DecreaseEthanol consumption after discontinuation in males
Study
ratn: not reported in source
male rats
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · systemic · 9 or 5 weeksAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Following discontinuation of dulaglutide treatment, the decrease in ethanol consumption was prolonged in males, but not females.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Therefore, we investigated the effects of 9 or 5 weeks of once weekly administration of dulaglutide, a long-acting GLP-1R agonist, on ethanol intake in male and female rats.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3267807703
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In female rats, reduced ethanol consumption did not persist after dulaglutide discontinuation.
In plain wordsIn female rats, reduced alcohol intake did not persist after dulaglutide treatment stopped.
Peptide
Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
Outcome
No significant changeEthanol consumption after discontinuation in females
Study
ratn: not reported in source
female rats
Outcome group
Addiction, withdrawal and alcohol intake · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · systemic · 9 or 5 weeksAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Following discontinuation of dulaglutide treatment, the decrease in ethanol consumption was prolonged in males, but not females.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Therefore, we investigated the effects of 9 or 5 weeks of once weekly administration of dulaglutide, a long-acting GLP-1R agonist, on ethanol intake in male and female rats.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3267807704
05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In male and female rats, dulaglutide differentially influenced monoaminergic signalling in reward-related brain areas.
In plain wordsIn rats, dulaglutide affected brain monoamine signalling differently in males and females.
Peptide
Dulaglutide (Trulicity)
Outcome
MixedMonoaminergic signalling
Study
ratn: not reported in source
male and female rats
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated · systemic · 9 weeksAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
We demonstrated that 9 weeks of dulaglutide treatment differentially influenced monoaminergic signalling in reward-related areas of male and female rats.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Therefore, we investigated the effects of 9 or 5 weeks of once weekly administration of dulaglutide, a long-acting GLP-1R agonist, on ethanol intake in male and female rats.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3267807705

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
22 Oct 2026, 02:26 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
21 Oct 2026, 18:59 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

Publication types

MeSH terms

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.