Prof. Dr. med. vet. Thomas Lutz

Area of Research

Description of Research Interest

My main interests are:
Amylinergic control of eating
Mechanisms underlying the effects of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery (RYGB)
Pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus in cats

The gut brain axis is one of the major physiological systems to control energy balance and in particular energy intake. One of these signals is the pancreatic hormone amylin. Amylin analogues are in clinical use for the treatment of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and some of these and newly developed analogues are currently being tested as anti-obesity medications by several pharmaceutical companies in Europe and North America. We are probably the only academic lab worldwide with such a long history on research in amylin's biology.

Our laboratory has an established rodent model of RYGB. Our research focusses on RYGB effects on eating, energy expenditure, taste reactivity, bone metabolism, lipid metabolism and the cardiovascular system.

Diabetes mellitus in cats has a pathophysiology very similar to human type 2 diabetes. Cats are the only species apart from primates that develop a type 2 diabetes like syndrome spontaneously. Our research focussed on the characterization of changes in the exocrine and in the endocrine pancreas of diabetic cats. Further, we provided evidence for the usefulness of incretin-based therapy (in particular with GLP-1 analogues) in treating diabetic cats.

Special Expertise

Gut hormones in the control of eating and metabolism
Bariatric surgery in rodents

Shareable Platforms, Services, Equipment & Infrastructure

Indirect calorimetry
Rodent CT scan
Automated feeding systems for rodents