Health Discoveries in General Health News
Serotonin may have properties that combat diabetes
November 11, 2010
The emotion-regulating brain chemical serotonin may have properties that help combat diabetes, according to a study published online in Nature Neuroscience.
In addition, the research team at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center that did the study found a possible reason why patients who take anti-psychotic drugs that affect serotonin sometimes gain weight and develop diabetes.
"This discovery tells us that drugs that affect serotonin action can have anti-diabetic actions independent of body weight and feeding," said Dr. Joel Elmquist, professor of internal medicine and pharmacology at UT Southwestern.
In laboratory tests, the researchers blocked the impact of a serotonin receptor within the body that is believed to regulate energy and glucose metabolism. By further testing, they determined that when the serotonin receptor is blocked everywhere but in brain cells called pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), insulin resistance no longer develops in the liver. POMC neurons are known to play a role in suppressing appetite and inducing weight loss.
Within the North Shore-LIJ Health System, the Harvey Cushing Institutes of Neurosciences has the latest treatment options available, including innovative pain procedures, minimally invasive surgeries and endovascular stroke care.
The emotion-regulating brain chemical serotonin may have properties that help combat diabetes, according to a study published online in Nature Neuroscience.
In addition, the research team at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center that did the study found a possible reason why patients who take anti-psychotic drugs that affect serotonin sometimes gain weight and develop diabetes.
"This discovery tells us that drugs that affect serotonin action can have anti-diabetic actions independent of body weight and feeding," said Dr. Joel Elmquist, professor of internal medicine and pharmacology at UT Southwestern.
In laboratory tests, the researchers blocked the impact of a serotonin receptor within the body that is believed to regulate energy and glucose metabolism. By further testing, they determined that when the serotonin receptor is blocked everywhere but in brain cells called pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC), insulin resistance no longer develops in the liver. POMC neurons are known to play a role in suppressing appetite and inducing weight loss.
Within the North Shore-LIJ Health System, the Harvey Cushing Institutes of Neurosciences has the latest treatment options available, including innovative pain procedures, minimally invasive surgeries and endovascular stroke care.