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posted by martyb on Sunday July 12 2020, @10:42PM   Printer-friendly
from the sweet-tooth-liver dept.

https://medicine.uiowa.edu/content/study-pinpoints-brain-cells-trigger-sugar-cravings-and-consumption:

Most people enjoy a sweet treat every now and then. But an unchecked “sweet tooth” can lead to overconsumption of sugary foods and chronic health issues like obesity and type 2 diabetes. Understanding the biological mechanisms that control sugar intake and preference for sweet taste could have important implications for managing and preventing these health problems.

The new study, led by Matthew Potthoff, PhD, associate professor of neuroscience and pharmacology in the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, and Matthew Gillum, PhD, at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, focuses on actions of a hormone called fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). This hormone is known to play a role in energy balance, body weight control, and insulin sensitivity.

[...] Potthoff and his colleagues previously discovered that FGF21 is made in the liver in response to increased levels of sugar, and acts in the brain to suppress sugar intake and the preference for sweet taste.

[...] Although it was known that FGF21 acted in the brain, identifying the exact cellular targets was complicated by the fact that the hormone’s receptor is expressed at very low levels and is therefore difficult to “see.” Using various techniques, the researchers were able to precisely identify which cells express the receptor for FGF21. By investigating these cells, the study shows that FGF21 targets glutamatergic neurons in the brain to lower sugar intake and sweet taste preference. The researchers also showed that FGF21’s action on specific neurons in the ventromedial hypothalamus reduce sugar intake by enhancing the neurons’ sensitivity to glucose.

Journal Reference:
FGF21 Signals to Glutamatergic Neurons in the Ventromedial Hypothalamus to Suppress Carbohydrate Intake, Cell Metabolism (DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2020.06.008)


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  • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday July 13 2020, @02:38AM (6 children)

    by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 13 2020, @02:38AM (#1020127) Journal

    but I still think back to the abuse of dinitrophenol whenever something like this comes up and shudder a bit.

    Oh, don't blame dinitrophenol, its such a nice high explosive.

    (large grin)

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 13 2020, @01:02PM (5 children)

    by Anonymous Coward on Monday July 13 2020, @01:02PM (#1020275)

    No, you're thinking of trinitrophenol.

    • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday July 13 2020, @01:44PM (4 children)

      by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 13 2020, @01:44PM (#1020291) Journal

      No, the picric acid didn't cross my mind (or brain).

      dinitrophenol [wikipedia.org]

      DNP's explosive strength is 81% that of TNT, based on the Trauzl lead block test. DNP was the cause of the 1916 Rainham Chemical Factory explosion which left 7 dead and 69 injured. DNP is listed on the Homeland Security Anti-Terrorism Chemicals of Interest list.

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      • (Score: 2) by RS3 on Monday July 13 2020, @03:20PM (3 children)

        by RS3 (6367) on Monday July 13 2020, @03:20PM (#1020359)

        Crikey dingo! Next they'll be telling us to use nitroglycerin medicinally!

        • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday July 13 2020, @03:38PM (2 children)

          by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 13 2020, @03:38PM (#1020387) Journal

          Next they'll be telling us to use nitroglycerin medicinally!

          I think the milder Tadalafil would be so much better. But, yes, it has a slower onset than nitroglycerin.

          --
          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
          • (Score: 2) by RS3 on Monday July 13 2020, @04:09PM (1 child)

            by RS3 (6367) on Monday July 13 2020, @04:09PM (#1020414)

            Tadalifil. Hmm. I'd never heard of it before. (trundles off to search...)

            "Tadalafil is used to treat male sexual function problems (impotence or erectile dysfunction-ED)."

            I forget, how do you just randomly happen to know about Tadalifil? (big grin!)

            Jabs aside, you sure know chemistry as well as other stuff. Are you a Dr., or ever considered it? What do you do for a living?

            • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Monday July 13 2020, @04:26PM

              by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Monday July 13 2020, @04:26PM (#1020426) Journal

              What do you do for a living?

              Writing (non mission- or life-critical) software. Helps me sleep better at night that the bugs I introduce will give others opportunities to earn their living.

              you sure know chemistry as well as other stuff. Are you a Dr., or ever considered it?

              No, mate, because I wouldn't have enough time to learn about it if I were a doctor.

              I forget, how do you just randomly happen to know about Tadalifil?

              Not randomly, just curious about how did they stumbled upon it (turns out they were searching for vasodilators for high blood pressure and anghina when they got the first one. Tadalafil just provide a longer effect)

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              https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford