Mmmmm...onions...
Posted on 12/27/2005 7:26:46 AM PST by billorites
Marijuana--or more specifically its active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol--has a well-documented tendency to stimulate hunger. And while scientists have traced this property to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, they have had little understanding of the neural circuitry underlying this effect.
Understanding this circuitry has important practical implications because blocking the cannabinoid receptor, CB1, offers a promising approach to treating obesity. One such compound, rimonabant (trade name AcompliaTM) is already undergoing clinical testing.
In an article in the December 22, 2005, issue of Neuron, Young-Hwan Jo and colleagues report how the circuitry of CB1 is integrated with signaling by the appetite-suppressing hormone leptin. The CB1 receptor is normally triggered by natural regulatory molecules, called endocannabinoids.
In their studies, the researchers concentrated on the lateral hypothalamus (LH) of the brain, known to be a center of control of food intake. Their studies involved detailed electrophysiological measurements of the effects of specific neurons that they had identified in previous studies as being important in endocannabinoid signaling.
Their studies revealed that activation of CB1 receptors, as by endocannabinoid molecules, induced these neurons to be rendered more excitable by a mechanism called "depolarization-induced suppression of inhibition" (DSI).
What's more, they found that leptin inhibits DSI. However, they found that leptin did not interfere with the CB1 receptors themselves. Rather, leptin "short-circuits" the endocannabinoid effects by inhibiting pore-like channels in the neurons that regulate the flow of calcium into the neurons. Such calcium is necessary for the synthesis of endocannabinoids.
In further studies of mice genetically altered to be leptin deficient, the researchers found the DSI to be more prolonged than in normal mice. Thus, they said, the findings "implicate this mechanism for leptin receptor/endocannabinoid signaling in contributing to the maintenance of weight balance...." The researchers also included that "upregulation of endocannabinoid signaling in the LH may explain, at least in part, the increased body weight consistent with a prior report of elevated endocannabinoids" in such leptin-deficient mice.
The researchers concluded that their findings "are consistent with the hypothesis that the integration of endocannabinoid and leptin signaling regulates the excitability of neurons on appetite-related circuits."
They also wrote that "the cellular mechanisms of recently developed antiobesity drugs, such as rimonabant, may include decreased endocannabinoid signaling and hence decreased excitability of LH circuits related to appetite, even in the context of leptin insufficiency or resistance."
Um...I think something in the OTHER direction is needed. Suppression of the appetite.
Hehehe...as he says while still living in his parent's basement watching reruns of Gilligan's Island.
"Um...I think something in the OTHER direction is needed. Suppression of the appetite."
That is needed, too. However, there are a lot of people for whom stimulation of the appetite is very important. Cancer patients, the elderly, and more. It's not a zero-sum thing.
Mysteries are like onions with no center. Peal away one layer, and there's a deeper layer below it.
But meanwhile, we've learned something useful.
Mmmmm...onions...
Hehehe...as he says while still living in his parent's basement watching reruns of Gilligan's Island.
SOME pot smokers end up that way ... as do some boozers. How are any of them your or government's business?
Yet more Liberaltarian palaver...the 10th amendment trumps the 9th.
"That medication already exists: it's called marijuana. (And if used from a vaporizer rather than smoked it doesn't have the ill effects of smoking.)"
You're correct, of course, but it's currently illegal. Aside from that, try convincing my 85 year old father-in-law to use marijuana in any form. It won't work. He'll take a pill though, if it's prescribed by his doctor.
It would be nice to have available. He doesn't eat much, and has little appetite. That's interfering with a couple of his medical conditions. I can make food he'll eat, but I can't do it all the time.
This would be a real boon. Yes, I know that marijuana should be legalized or somehow be legal to use. That's not going to help my FIL, though. It's not a zero-sum game, and my FIL doesn't have years to wait.
When you grow up and have kids you might understand.
Yet more Liberaltarian palaver...the 10th amendment trumps the 9th.
I didn't say a word about any amendment. But since you raise the subject: are you ascribing to me the view that "the 10th amendment trumps the 9th"? If so, you're wrong. Or are you stating your own view? If so, please explain; neither the plain language of those amendments, nor any reading I'm aware of, supports your claim.
Understood...does not work for everyone for nausea (works best as preventative there), but we were discussing appetite enhancement where oral forms work well.
I have kids, and I don't want government raising them, thanks. I see no reason to believe that restricting the rights of adults protects my kids ... and even if I did, as a conservative I wouldn't force other adults to shoulder MY parenting burden.
Stop bogarting the doritos!;)
I certainly don't think your FIL should have to wait for marijuana legalization. I also don't think that anyone who wants marijuana-related medicines available should support the War On Drugs, whose current party line is that marijuana has no medicinal value. (Not saying you do support it.)
I'm grown up and have kids and grandkids but I still don't understand.
When they become violent and hurt others, not just themselves.
Hurting others is already against the law, and marijuana ... unlike the legal drug alcohol ... does not increase violence. No support there for anti-marijuana laws.
Then you need to read more. States have the right to make laws for the society they want to maintain, you're welcome to lobby your fellow citizens to elect representatives to make laws you'd like instead of whining about. Using your silly scenario comparing legal behavior "alcohol use" with illegal behavior "pot use" is sophistic. Why not legalize all drugs and compare alcohol with morphine?
Grow up, get a job and move out of your parent's basement. No wonder Liberaltarians are only the irrelevant 2% of the electorate.
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