Scientists at Columbia University have discovered specialized neurons in mouse brainstems that signal when to stop eating, integrating multiple sources of information including the smell, sight, and feel of food, as well as gut hormones. Using a new single-cell technique called spatially resolved molecular profiling, researchers Alexander Nectow and Srikanta Chowdhury identified these previously unknown neurons in a brainstem region known for processing complex signals.
Through experiments where the neurons could be controlled with light, the two scientists found that activating these neurons caused mice to eat smaller meals, with the intensity of activation determining how quickly the animals stopped eating. The neurons were found to track each bite the mice took and be influenced by appetite-related hormones and GLP-1 agonists (drugs used for treating obesity and diabetes). While these neurons were discovered in mice, their location in the brainstem—a region similar across all vertebrates—suggests humans likely have the same neurons, potentially leading to new treatments for obesity.
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