A new mechanism to regulate obesity has been found. This could be a steeping stone to treat obesity. The study shows a new mechanism by which the brain can affect the development of obesity triggered by consuming a high-fat diet.
Senior author, Fukuda said, “It’s well known that the brain is involved in the development of obesity, but how a high-fat diet changes the brain so it triggers the accumulation of body fat is still unclear.”
The mouse Rap1 gene was studied by the team , which is expressed in a variety of tissues, including brain. In brain, this tissue is involved in memory and learning.
The scientists also were interested in studying whether leptin changed in mice lacking Rap1.Leptin resistance is a hallmark of human obesity.
The study appeared in Cell Reports.
ALSO READ: India beat Iran to become world champions in kabaddi