Discovering molecules reduces appetite

Japanese scientists have identified a molecule that makes mammals feel full, a finding that could lead to new ways to treat obesity in humans.

Scientists believe that taste is controlled in a region of the brain called the hypothalamus, and the group of researchers claims that this is the first group to discover an agent that stimulates an increase or decrease in appetite.

In an article in the online edition of Nature, the scientists identified the molecule as nesfatin-1, which is naturally produced in the brain. After injecting this molecule into the brain of mice, scientists found that mice began to eat less and lost weight. They can also make them eat more by inhibiting nesfatin-1.

Masatomo Mori of the Department of Molecular and Medical Sciences at Gunma University of Medicine said: 'After we injected nesfatin-1 inhibitors, these mice showed increased appetite and eventually increased. weigh slowly ' . Mori said the discovery could pave the way for the treatment of obesity, which has become a major health problem in the world.

Obesity is associated with chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and stroke as well as several types of cancer.

Q.HONG