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Two doctors released their findings that melanocyte-stimulating
hormone (MSH) was responsible for keeping fat storage and metabolism
in check. They were recently granted a patent allowing them to use
MSH analogs, which act as a possible form of treatment of obesity.
In the study, scientists started engineering mice that didn’t
carry the pro-opio melanocortin (POMC) gene. It was discovered that
the mice that lacked the MSH hormone from their bloodstream became
obese because their bodies weren’t metabolizing any of their
stored fat. After MSH was released back into their circulatory system,
the mice began to lose weight.
Scientists explained that the MSH receptors worked through the
process of fat cells letting go of free fatty acids, while the remaining
cells were signaled to release them from the bloodstream and dispose
of them. The process basically allows the body to keep stored fat
in one part of the body in the event it is needed.
This hormone is perceived as the ideal way to help obese people
for two reasons. One reason was the mice didn’t experience
any ill side effects from the weight loss and secondly when the
weight of the mice reached normal range, the effect remained constant.
It has become apparent that the POMC gene plays a part in areas
such as feeding behavior and energy homeostasis and could have a
great impact on human health.
Plans are being made for the developing and testing of clinical
therapies.
Science
Daily May 13, 2004
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