Experts from the Medical College of Baylor and the National Institute of Health found in the mouse brain a new mechanism that regulates obesity.
The results of the study showed that in the future it can be used to treat people from this disease.
“It has long been known that the brain participates in the development of obesity. However, we still are unable to figure out how fats change the brain, and why it causes accumulation of fat in the body. To clarify this issue, we decided to study the mouse Rap1 gene, which is contained in all body tissues, including the brain, where he participates in the functions of memory and learning,” – said Makoto Fukuda, lead author of the study.
In order to study the role of Rap1, the experts decided to selectively remove some of the tissues of the body. All the mice were divided into two groups: – rodents lacked a gene in the hypothalamus and in the second he functioned. All animals were fed food with high fat diet.
After the end of the experiment revealed that the first group of mice significantly reduced body weight, and the second has added. It turned out that the rodents deprived of Rap1, the level of stucco is much higher, and in fact it helps to regulate body weight by reducing appetite.
Thus, scientists were able to prove that the brain affects the development of obesity. “In the future it will be possible to use this study to help people cope with extra weight”.
