Pavlovian conditioned approach with different reward magnitudes reveals opposing effects of acute and chronic semaglutide treatment

Abstract

Rationale Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have attracted interest for their effects on motivational processes beyond satiation and weight loss, including motivation for drug rewards. Reward-predictive cues can acquire motivational value and promote food- and drug-seeking, raising the possibility that GLP-1RAs affect intake by altering cue-motivated behavior. Preclinical studies report reduced food intake and responding for drug rewards following GLP-1RA treatment. However, many preclinical studies have used acute treatment; whereas, clinically, GLP1-RAs are administered as chronic treatments with dose escalation to mitigate adverse effects. Objectives Using a modified Pavlovian conditioned approach (PavCA) paradigm, we directly compared the effects of acute and chronic semaglutide treatment on conditioned approach behavior elicited by cues predicting different magnitudes of palatable food reward in male and female rats. Results Although both treatment regimens reduced body weight relative to vehicle treatment, chronic semaglutide increased, whereas acute semaglutide decreased, sign-tracking toward reward-associated cues. Rats exhibited greater sign-tracking toward cues predicting large versus small rewards, but semaglutide did not differentially alter this reward-magnitude effect. Acutely treated rats consumed fewer reward pellets and exhibited less food-cup activity during non-cue periods. These findings suggest that nonspecific behavioral suppression or malaise may have contributed to reduced responding after acute treatment. Conclusions The effects of semaglutide on cue-motivated behavior depend on the treatment regimen. Acute-treatment studies should be interpreted cautiously because adverse or nonspecific effects may contribute to apparent reductions in motivation.