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Scientists uncover brain circuit that turns cravings into eating behavior

Researchers found that the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis integrates pleasure signals from central amygdala prodynorphin neurons and hunger signals from agouti-related peptide neurons to drive consumption. Manipulating this bed nucleus of the stria terminalis circuit bidirectionally altered food intake and body weight in mice.

11 Sep 2025

Green tea extract reduces weight and improves glucose control in obese mice

Green tea is an ancient beverage recognized for its medicinal and antioxidant properties. It has been widely studied for its beneficial effects on metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

10 Sep 2025

Key proteins found to shape sperm function and male fertility

There are many potential causes of infertility, and it can be challenging to pin down just what the problem is when a couple is having trouble getting pregnant.

10 Sep 2025

Piezo1 identified as key trigger for tension driven skin expansion

Investigators at Johns Hopkins Medicine report new evidence that the protein Piezo1 controls skin growth by detecting when skin is stretched and then coordinating the metabolic and immune changes necessary for growth.

5 Sep 2025

Discovery of mitochondrial microprotein opens path to obesity and aging therapies

Like bees breathing life into gardens, providing pollen and making flowers blossom, little cellular machines called mitochondria breathe life into our bodies, buzzing with energy as they produce the fuel that powers each of our cells.

29 Aug 2025

New molecular mechanism offers hope for treating depression in the elderly

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common psychiatric illnesses worldwide, but its molecular causes have still not been clearly identified.

25 Aug 2025

How a single gene reshapes pain perception through polyamine signaling

Researchers have identified SLC45A4 as a neuronal polyamine transporter genetically linked to human chronic pain. Loss of this gene in mice disrupts polyamine balance, alters spinal GABA levels, and reduces heat and tonic pain sensitivity.

24 Aug 2025

Hyperactivity in reticular thalamic nucleus drives autism-like behaviors in mice

Stanford Medicine scientists investigating the neurological underpinnings of autism spectrum disorder have found that hyperactivity in a specific brain region could drive behaviors commonly associated with the disorder.

20 Aug 2025

SNAP25 identified as key to sour taste perception and cell survival

The tongue contains numerous taste buds-tiny sensory organs responsible for detecting taste. Taste buds consist of specialized cells that translate chemical stimuli into neural signals.

19 Aug 2025

Respiratory viruses awaken dormant breast cancer cells and raise relapse risk

Respiratory viruses such as influenza and COVID-19 can reactivate dormant breast cancer cells in the lungs, raising the risk of metastasis. The process is driven by IL-6–induced cell changes and immune suppression, with the highest recurrence risk soon after infection.

14 Aug 2025

GIPR signaling opens brain’s gate for GLP-1 weight-loss therapy

A Cell Metabolism study reveals that GIPR signaling in oligodendrocytes enhances brain access and weight-loss efficacy of GLP-1R agonists by increasing vascular permeability and targeting appetite-regulating neurons. This mechanism may explain why GIPR/GLP-1R co-agonists outperform single-agent therapies.

14 Aug 2025

Lipid droplet protein perilipin 2 linked to poor prognosis in lung cancer

New research has revealed that perilipin 2 protein modulates aggressive cancer progression in advanced lung adenocarcinoma, the most common type of lung cancer, by regulating lipid droplet accumulation, which plays an important role in lipid metabolism by making cancer cells store more fat, acting as a fuel source.

5 Aug 2025

Gfi1 regulates exhausted CD8+ T cells to improve cancer immunotherapy

Killer immune cells destroy cancer cells and cells infected by virus. These CD8+ T cells are activated after detection of viral infection or growth of "non-self" tumor cells.

5 Aug 2025

Metformin’s blood sugar control starts in the brain, not just the liver, study finds

Low, clinically relevant doses of metformin lower blood glucose by inhibiting the Rap1 protein in specific neurons of the hypothalamus, revealing a brain-first mechanism. This action is essential for metformin’s effect at therapeutic doses and highlights new directions for diabetes treatment.

3 Aug 2025

Astrocytes play key role in coordinating neurons for visual information

Cells called astrocytes are about as abundant in the brain as neurons, but scientists have spent much less time figuring out how they contribute to brain functions.

22 Jul 2025

Zebrafish reveal how two genes independently drive sensory organ regeneration

Researchers identified that two cyclin D genes, ccndx and ccnd2a, independently regulate distinct stem and progenitor cell populations during zebrafish sensory organ regeneration. The findings reveal that regeneration can proceed via alternative pathways even when one gene is disrupted, providing new insight into tissue repair mechanisms.

20 Jul 2025