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Figure 1: There are more activated SST neurons in the tubular nucleus of fasting mice compared to mice that have been fed. |
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Figure 2: There are more activated SST neurons in the tubular nucleus of mice injected with ghrelin, compared to a control group of mice injected with saline |
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Dr. Fu Yu ( L); Dr. Sarah Luo (R) |
A major discovery on the tuberous nucleus broadens our understanding of the role of the brain in regulating metabolism and food intake, and offers a new avenue of research that can help fight the disease. obesity
SINGAPORE, July 13 – (ACN Newswire) – Researchers at the Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC) of A * STAR have identified a new region of the mouse brain called the Tuberal Nucleus (TN), which affects appetite and body weight. It should be noted that TN is of a similar structure to Nucleus Tuberalis Lateralis (NTL) in the human brain, whose function is unknown. The discovery by A * STAR researchers of the role of TN in appetite and body weight is a major discovery for understanding changes in appetite in humans and the potential treatment and the prevention of eating disorders such as obesity. The results of the SBIC research were published in the peer-reviewed journal Science, July 6, 2018.
Previous research has shown a strong correlation between neurodegenerative diseases and disorders of the diet. While patients with neurodegenerative diseases often show changes in appetite and metabolism, the neural mechanisms involved are not known. NTL-specific pathological changes have been found in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, but the functional consequence is unknown. The notion of the role of NTL in the regulation of food intake has never been tested either.
Until the in-depth study of SBIC and the subsequent discovery, the roles of the TN mouse or human NTL, located in the hypothalamus of the brain, remained a mystery.
Dr. Fu Yu and his SBIC research team discovered that somatostatin (SST) neurons in the tubular nucleus (TN) played a crucial role in regulating the diet of mice. In the team's experiments, the mice fasted overnight, or were injected with ghrelin – an intestinal hormone that triggers feelings of hunger. The results showed that these procedures led to an increase in the activity of SST neurons, indicating that these neurons were activated by hunger and probably involved in the regulation of food.
Figure 1: There are more activated SST neurons in the tubular nucleus of fasting mice compared to mice that have been fed. https://bit.ly/2LcAmod
Figure 2: There are more activated SST neurons in the tubular nucleus of mice that were injected with ghrelin, compared to a control group of mice that were injected with saline solution. https://bit.ly/2L2ivTZ
The overnight fast or injection of the hunger hormone ghrelin has shown increased activity in SST neurons in the tuberous nucleus, as represented by l? increased white arrows in Figures 1 and 2. [19659005PourvalidersdiscoveredtheequipmentusingthemethodsofhemogeneticsandoptogeneticsthatoperatedasbiologicalswitchestomanipulateaccuratelytheactivityofSSNneuronsintheothergroupofmice
These experiments have demonstrated that the activation of SST neurons promotes food intake, the suppression of SST neurons reduced food intake, and the elimination of SST neurons reduced body weight gain. The optogenetic experiment also showed that SST neurons could control different regions of the brain known to influence the regulation of food, such as the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and the nucleus of the terminal streak bed (BNST). ).
Professor Patrick J. Cozzone, Executive Director of the SBIC, said: "We are excited about these results which will have profound implications for human health." The success of this study underscores the importance of multidisciplinary and collaborative research for making major discoveries in modern biomedical sciences. "
Dr. Fu Yu, group leader of the SBIC research team, said," Our study has shown that the homologous structure of human NTL exists in mice and reveals the primary function of the nucleus. tubular. The discovery of the function of the tuberous nucleus is a factor of change in the study of neuronal regulation of metabolism and food intake and paves the way for the management of eating disorders such as obesity, an epidemic worldwide and a major cause of health problems such as diabetes. "
Diabetes is one of the most common metabolic diseases in Singapore and imposes a heavy economic and health burden on society." The results of SBIC research on how the brain regulates metabolism and metabolism. food intake will complement A * STAR's research and development efforts in the fight against diseases related to obesity and diabetes.
To move forward, the team plans to to study the genetic profile of SST neurons in TN and their impact on metabolic disturbances in neurodegenerative diseases.This could lead to new therapeutic targets for metabolic diseases.
For more information on research, please refer to the article "Regulation of nutrition by somatostatin neurons in the tuberous nucleus", published online by the scientific journal Science July 6, 2018.
Link to the online version: http: //science.sciencemag.org/content/361/6397/76
For more information on the research team of the SBIC, please refer to Appendix A.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Lynn Hong
Deputy Chief, Corporate Communications
Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A * STAR)
Tel: +65 6419 6597
Email: [email protected]
About the Singapore Bioimaging Consortium A * STAR (SBIC)
The Singapore Bioimaging Consortium (SBIC) of the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A * STAR) is a leading preclinical bioimaging platform in the world. With a multidisciplinary team of biologists, physiologists, chemists, physicists, electrical / electronics engineers, computer scientists and clinicians, SBIC is studying human diseases that are major public health problems using molecular physiology and advanced bioimaging tools in translational mode. and swivel. Medical community and industrial partners. SBIC is also working on strategic bio-imaging projects, including the development of new imaging probes. As a national consortium, SBIC aims to leverage existing expertise and imaging capabilities in Singapore, bringing together substantial strengths in the physical sciences and engineering with those in the biomedical and clinical sciences . Through a series of targeted collaborations and joint nominations, SBIC encourages and supports the growth of multidisciplinary research activities in the field of bioimaging at local research institutes, universities and hospitals to accelerate development. biomedical discoveries. SBIC has a unique ability to promote rapid transfer of results in the search for animal and human imagery in the clinical environment, for the immediate benefit of patients. It also ensures the development of financially viable and sustainable contractual research with industrial partners (pharma, food and nutrition, personal care). SBIC currently operates five joint laboratories with industry partners in the form of public-private partnerships. For more information on SBIC, please visit www.sbic.a-star.edu.sg.
About the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A * STAR)
The Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A * STAR) is the leading a public agency in Singapore that conducts economic research to advance scientific discoveries. innovative technology. Through open innovation, we collaborate with our partners in the public and private sectors for the benefit of society.
As a scientific and technological organization, A * STAR bridges the gap between academia and industry. Our research creates economic growth and jobs for Singapore and improves lives by contributing to societal benefits such as improved outcomes in health care, urban living and sustainability.
We play a key role in developing and diversifying talent. our agency and the research entities, the wider research community and the industry. A * STAR's R & D activities cover the biomedical and physical sciences and engineering, with research entities primarily located in Biopolis and Fusionopolis. For ongoing news, visit www.a-star.edu.sg.
APPENDIX A
About the SBIC Research Team
The success of this study results from the combined efforts of SBIC's scientific talents in neuroscience, physiology, molecular biology and advanced neuroimaging. The study is led by Dr. Fu Yu, a recipient of the A * STAR Investigatorship, which aims to train promising young researchers and give them the opportunity to conduct independent research at A * STAR and to train researchers. next-generation science leaders. Dr. Fu's team includes 12 researchers, including Dr. Sarah Luo, first author of the article in the journal Science, and researcher at A * STAR.
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