Khaberni - A recent scientific study revealed an unexpected mechanism used by the brain to send a satiety signal after eating, which may open the door to new ways to treat obesity and eating disorders.
According to research published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, and detailed by the website "Science Daily," scientists have discovered that brain cells called "astrocytes" play a vital role in regulating appetite, even though scientists have believed for many years that they were just supporting cells for neurons.
The study was led by a team from the University of Concepción in Chile in collaboration with researchers from the University of Maryland in the United States. Researcher Ricardo Araneda, a professor of biology at the university, said: "The prevailing thought was that satiety signals were linked only to neurons, but the new findings show that astrocytes also participate in regulating the amount of food a person eats."
The process begins after eating when the glucose level in the blood rises. Specialized cells known as tanycytes detect this increase within a region of the brain called the hypothalamus, which is responsible for controlling hunger and satiety. These cells produce a compound called lactate, which in turn transfers to neighboring astrocytes.
The researchers found that astrocytes possess a special receptor known as HCAR1 which responds to this compound. When activated, these cells release a chemical called glutamate, to activate the neurons responsible for suppressing appetite, creating a feeling of fullness.
Araneda said that the surprise was in the complexity of this chain of signals, as the tanycytes communicate with the astrocytes, which in turn relay the message to the neurons.
Although the experiments were conducted on animal models, the researchers confirm that these cells also exist in humans, making this pathway a potential target for developing new treatments for obesity in the future.
The research team hopes that understanding this system will lead to the development of drugs that specifically target astrocytes or the HCAR1 receptor, which could enhance current treatments for regulating appetite.
