Buspirone Induces Weight Loss and Normalization of Blood Pressure via the Stimulation of PPAR Dependent Energy Producing Pathway in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Introduction. Buspirone, as a partial agonist for a 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) receptor 1A (5-HT1A), has been prescribed as an anxiolytic drug for patients. In addition, the lowering effect of serotonin on blood pressure was reported in hypertensive animal model. We investigated the therapeutic mechanism of buspirone against lipid metabolism disturbed by hypertension of early stage via hypertensive and obese animal model. Methods. The levels of various biomarkers related to lipid metabolism and hypertension were estimated through the measurement of body weight and fat weight, blood analysis, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and staining methods. Results. The lipid accumulation was lowered in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells by buspirone treatments of 50 and 100 mu M compared with untreated differentiated control. Body weight and abdominal fat weight were lowered in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) administered with buspirone of 10 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks than 8-week untreated group. Triglyceride (TG) level was decreased in SHRs administered with buspirone of 5 and 10 mg/kg/day compared to 8-week untreated group. High-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol concentration was elevated by buspirone 10 mg/kg/day treatment compared to 8-week untreated group. Blood pressures in SHRs were lowered by buspirone treatments of 5 and 10 mg/kg/day compared with 8-week untreated group. Protein levels for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor d (PPARd), 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and PPAR. coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1a) were increased both in C2C12 cells treated by buspirone of 100 mu M and in SHRs administered by buspirone of 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg/day compared to untreated control cells and 8-week untreated group. Fat cell numbers decreased in 8-week untreated group were increased in SHRs administered by buspirone treats of 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg/day. Protein expression levels for angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1) were increased in 8-week untreated group compared to 4-week group, however, they were decreased by buspirone treatments of 1, 5, and 10 mg/kg/day. Conclusion. Buspirone may induce the losses of body weight and abdominal fat weight through the activation of PPARd dependent catabolic metabolism producing energy, and eventually, the ameliorated lipid metabolism could normalize high blood pressure.