Obesity : two groups of neurons act on hunger

CLIPAREA/epictura

Published the 31.07.2017 at 12h46

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obésitéfaimcerveau

The human brain is still home to many of the mysteries. For proof of this : an american team has discovered two new population of neurons involved in the sensation of hunger. Their study, published in Cell, points out that the activation of these cells reduces food intake in mice. What might constitute a new therapeutic target against obesity.

The neurons in question are located in a part of the brainstem, the raphe nuclei. This region has previously been associated with the power supply, without that specific cells could be identified. It is now done.

Two distinct roles

The work, conducted by researchers from Rockefeller university (Usa), were used to isolate two specific groups of neurons. To do this, they examined the brain activity of mice in normal times and when they were too fed. And the neural activity varies as a function of these two situations.

In fact, the populations identified fill very different roles. In one case, the feeling of satiety causes a peak in activity of the neurons responsible for release of glutamate. This chemical allows nerve cells to communicate with each other.

In obese mice, the production of glutamate – stimulated-artificially – results in a stop of food intake, and weight loss. Conversely, hunger activates a group of neurons. These releases of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which has the effect of increasing the consumption of food.