 | | | | Related Healthscout Videos | |
|
Page: << Prev | 1 | 2 "Controlling appetite and reproduction together provides a big evolutionary advantage," Montminy said. "If there is no food, the brain believes the body should not reproduce, because without body fat, a baby's growth in the womb could be stunted, and without food to replenish the body's energy reserves, there will be nothing to feed the offspring."
The researchers also found that the mice that inherited only one TORC1 gene were able to reproduce but gained more weight than the normal mice.
"This suggests that half of the dose of TORC switch is enough to cause problems in leptin signaling in the brain, and it may be that subtle mutations in the TORC1 in humans could be responsible for an inheritable risk factor for gaining weight," said Montminy.
Text Continues Below
Montminy thinks that this research could lead to new therapies that tweak mutated and inefficient TORC genes.
"TORC1 is regulated by phosphate handling enzymes called kinases, and kinases often make for very good drug targets," he said.
More information
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine has more about weight and fertility.
Page: << Prev | 1 | 2
-- Krisha McCoy
|
.gif)
