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Research News from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI)
Gene Therapy Restores Feeding Behavior to Starving Mice HHMI researchers have used gene therapy to rejuvenate feeding
behavior in starving mice. Prior to treatment, the genetically
engineered mice had been avoiding food because their brains did
not produce the proper amount of the neurotransmitter dopamine. The experiments provide new information about the regions of
the brain that integrate internal hunger signals and external
sensory information about food to trigger feeding behavior. The
studies suggest that a low level of dopamine may contribute to
the nutritional disorders observed in some people who have
Parkinson's disease. Research published in the June 2001 issue of the journal Neuron. For the full story go to http://www.hhmi.org/news/palmiter.html
Message posted by: hhmi
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