Treatments based on ... nicotine could be put under control obesity.This is claimed by a publication in the prestigious journal Science researchers from Yale University and the College of Medicine in Houston Beilor, after identifying a group of brain neurons which "cut" the appetite in smokers.

In their article the researchers describe experiments on mice which showed that nicotine activates specific neurons in turn send a signal to the body of the coming of satiety.

Thus, as noted, based therapies to nicotine probably could in future put a "stop" the epidemic of obesity.

Combination experiments

The researchers had the mice to a combination of molecular, pharmacological, behavioral, and genetic experiments.They found that nicotine activates certain receptors called the hypothalamic melanocortin system, a network of neurons in the central nervous system.

Then these receptors increases the activity of neurons in the pre-opiomelanokortinis (POMC), which are known to be associated with obesity in both animals and humans.

When mice showed lack of POMC pathway exposed to nicotine, showed no reduction in weight.By contrast the animals had the specific path they lost weight.

Different receptors by cigarette ...

Scientists also discovered that the receptors influenced obesity were not the same as those who "give birth" to a craving in smokers.This is important as future therapies could help in battle with the scales ... not to translate and launch the harmful habit of smoking.

The study leader, professor of psychiatry at Yale University Marina Pitsioto he said that "we can have a medicine based on nicotine which selectively targets cells involved in obesity without causing any desire to smoke.As we have seen is likely to achieve suppression of appetite but also activate the brain's reward centers. "

Required clinical trials

The professor warned, however, that required clinical trials in humans to demonstrate that a treatment based on nicotine will not have side effects, particularly as regards blood pressure.As mentioned, such a drug could motivate smokers who are currently afraid to quit smoking to avoid gaining weight, take the plunge."It can also help people who start smoking to control their weight.It is tragic to think that one person would start smoking for that reason. "