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bioRxiv · 10.64898/2026.06.16.732451

Semaglutide promotes intramuscular fat formation after injury

Noble, C.·Geller, D.·Urs, N.·Kopinke, D.
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Abstract

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have become defining therapies in the management of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Despite recent interest in the effects of GLP-1RA therapy on skeletal muscle, their influence on muscle repair after injury remains largely untested. Because GLP-1RA use is common in populations at heightened risk for diminished regenerative capacity, a critical unanswered question is whether GLP-1R agonism supports muscle regeneration or alters the normal course of recovery after injury. Using intramuscular glycerol injection as an adipogenic injury model, we assessed whether semaglutide, a widely prescribed GLP-1RA, alters the balance between myogenesis and adipogenesis during regeneration. Surprisingly, semaglutide treatment markedly increased the formation of intramuscular adipose tissue (IMAT) and inhibited the growth of regenerated fibers. These effects were injury-dependent, as uninjured muscle showed no detectable differences in IMAT or myofiber size. Together, these findings identify a previously underappreciated context in which GLP-1RA therapy may adversely affect muscle quality.

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Noble, C., Geller, D., Urs, N., Kopinke, D.. 2026-06-17. Semaglutide promotes intramuscular fat formation after injury. https://doi.org/10.64898/2026.06.16.732451

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