Research from the University of Gothenburg reveals that a certain group of nerve cells in the brain stem modulates the effects of the obesity treatment semaglutide on appetite and weight reduction without the typical side effects. By examining the activation of these nerve cells in mice, researchers were able to replicate the weight loss effects seen with semaglutide, suggesting potential for developing optimized treatments that decouple benefits from side effects such as nausea and muscle loss, which are common in current therapies.
This suggests that these nerve cells control the beneficial effects of semaglutide. We have therefore identified a specific group of nerve cells that is necessary for the effects that semaglutide has on weight and appetite, but which does not appear to contribute to any significant extent to side effects such as nausea.
The researchers worked with mice. They tracked which nerve cells were activated by the drug and were then able to stimulate these cells -- without administering the drug itself.
Semaglutide belongs to a group of drugs called GLP-1R agonists and has been shown to effectively reduce food intake and body weight.
When these nerve cells were killed, the drug's effect on appetite and fat loss instead decreased significantly. However, side effects such as nausea and muscle loss remained.
Collection
[
|
...
]