Imagine if you could theoretically turn off human hunger: Experimenting with Leptin (The Hunger Hormone) in Rats

Written by Dr. Jonathan Peterson, Updated on June 15th, 2024

Reading Time: 3 minutes
()


One of the prime goals of the medical community today is to help patients learn how to lose weight easier and keep the weight off once it's lost.

One of the essential hormones involved in the regulation of hunger is Leptin. Leptin is vital to the digestive cycle because it is the primary hormone that curbs appetite.

When we consume calories from what we eat and drink, that energy travels to fat cells for absorption. Once the fat cells have absorbed sufficient energy, they release Leptin. Leptin travels to the brain to signal for hunger cessation and encourage increased activity.

Researchers are working to understand Leptin more completely so that we can more effectively help patients control weight and avoid the various maladies associated with obesity.

Leptin Intimately Connected to Appetite, Thermal Regulation, and Activity Level

A recent study published in Nature explores the functions of Leptin. In this rodent study, mice were genetically manipulated not to produce Leptin. Without Leptin's activity, mice could not control their appetite and were less active. They tripled in the size of regular mice. They also had issues generating sufficient body heat and struggled in cold temperatures.

After assessing the baseline function of these Leptin-Lacking Mice, they started administering Leptin to the mice. After Leptin was introduced, the mice ate less and exercised more. Furthermore, the mice began breaking down dormant white fat and began generating heat with brown fat, making them more resilient to cold.

Dr. Paul Cohen, the lead author of this study and professor at Rockefeller University, was explicitly interested in nervous system activity related to Leptin and the fat cells. They used advanced imaging techniques to visualize what was happening.

Researchers discovered that Leptin from fat cells acted on nerve cells in the Hypothalamus, thus regulating two important proteins: POMC (pro-opiomelanocortin) and AGRP (Agouti-Related Peptide.)

What Are POMC and Agouti-Related Peptide?

These two hormones are antagonistic. POMC is a precursor polypeptide that is critical for the cessation of hunger. The hormone also triggers increased activity levels. AGRP does the opposite—It encourages appetite and suppresses activity.

The activity of these two hormones is expressed via specific nerve cells in the paraventricular nucleus known as Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factors. With the help of these hormones, BDNF modulates energy expenditure.

Researchers discovered that deleting the BDNF gene had tremendous effects, including extreme obesity, reduced thermoregulation, suppressed activity level, and increased appetite.

Potential for BDNF Manipulation as a Weight Loss Treatment for Obesity

While this research is still in its infant stages, it's likely possible to apply this knowledge to human patients struggling with uncontrolled obesity. While Leptin Treatments help many patients lose weight, not all patients respond to Leptin.

It's theorized that this is due to insufficient response from the Paraventricular BDNF. Learning how to activate or upregulate this area of the Hypothalamus could be key in treating obesity for a certain subset of struggling patients.

Contact Us For HGH And Sermorelin Injection Treatment

Name (*)
Email (*)
Phone (*)
Select A Program (*)
Select US State (*)
Select Age (30+ only)

effects of low consultants testosterone in males 568818898

Related Posts
medical equipment blood test
hgh chart discount human growth hormone.webp
hgh chart how to take injections.webp

List of USA state clinics - click a flag below for blood testing clinics.

alabama clinics
Alabama Hormone Blood Analysis
alaska clinics
Alaska Hormone Blood Analysis
arizona clinics
Arizona Hormone Blood Analysis
arkansas clinics
Arkansas Hormone Blood Analysis
california clinics
California Hormone Blood Analysis
colorado clinics
Colorado Hormone Blood Analysis
connecticut clinics
Connecticut Hormone Blood Analysis
delaware clinics
Delaware Hormone Blood Analysis
florida clinics
Florida Hormone Blood Analysis
georgia clinics
Georgia Hormone Blood Analysis
hawaii clinics
Hawaii Hormone Blood Analysis
idaho clinics
Idaho Hormone Blood Analysis
illinois clinics
Illinois Hormone Blood Analysis
indiana clinics
Indiana Hormone Blood Analysis
iowa clinics
Iowa Hormone Blood Analysis
kansas clinics
Kansas Hormone Blood Analysis
kentucky clinics
Kentucky Hormone Blood Analysis
louisiana clinics
Louisiana Hormone Blood Analysis
maine clinics
Maine Hormone Blood Analysis
maryland clinics
Maryland Hormone Blood Analysis
massachusetts clinics
Massachusetts Hormone Blood Analysis
michigan clinics
Michigan Hormone Blood Analysis
minnesota clinics
Minnesota Hormone Blood Analysis
mississippi clinics
Mississippi Hormone Blood Analysis
missouri clinics
Missouri Hormone Blood Analysis
montana clinics
Montana Hormone Blood Analysis
nebraska clinics
Nebraska Hormone Blood Analysis
nevada clinics
Nevada Hormone Blood Analysis
new hampshire clinics
New Hampshire Hormone Blood Analysis
new jersey clinics
New Jersey Hormone Blood Analysis
new mexico clinics
New Mexico Hormone Blood Analysis
new york clinics
New York Hormone Blood Analysis
north carolina clinics
North Carolina Hormone Blood Analysis
ohio clinics
Ohio Hormone Blood Analysis
oklahoma clinics
Oklahoma Hormone Blood Analysis
oregon clinics
Oregon Hormone Blood Analysis
pennsylvania clinics
Pennsylvania Hormone Blood Analysis
rhode island clinics
Rhode Island Hormone Blood Analysis
south carolina clinics
South Carolina Hormone Blood Analysis
south dakota clinics
South Dakota Hormone Blood Analysis
tennessee clinics
Tennessee Hormone Blood Analysis
texas clinics
Texas Hormone Blood Analysis
utah clinics
Utah Hormone Blood Analysis
vermont clinics
Vermont Hormone Blood Analysis
virginia clinics
Virginia Hormone Blood Analysis
washington clinics
Washington Hormone Blood Analysis
washington d.c clinics
Washington, D.C. Hormone Blood Analysis
west virginia clinics
West Virginia Hormone Blood Analysis
wisconsin clinics
Wisconsin Hormone Blood Analysis
wyoming clinics
Wyoming Hormone Blood Analysis

How useful was this post?

Click on a thumb to rate it!

Average rating / 5. Vote count:

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Word Count: 497