在8月出版的《自然—神经科学》期刊上，研究人员报告了一种不易患糖尿病并对糖尿病有抵抗力的小鼠。食物涉入量和体重的控制与大脑中的神经线路有关，新成果为这种关键神经线路的研究提供了有价值的线索。

大脑的视丘下部是控制饥饿、口渴和体温的重要区域。利用基因工程技术，哈佛医学院的Bradford Lowell和同事培育了一种转基因小鼠，在大脑的视丘下部的次神经元中，这种小鼠特别缺少一种释放神经传递素GABA抑制剂的能力。因此，尽管食用高脂肪食物，这些小鼠的食欲荷尔蒙都不会被刺激出来。

推荐原始出处：

Nature Neuroscience，11, 998 - 1000 (2008) ，Qingchun Tong，Bradford B Lowell

Synaptic release of GABA by AgRP neurons is required for normal regulation of energy balance

Qingchun Tong1, Chian-Ping Ye1, Juli E Jones1, Joel K Elmquist2 & Bradford B Lowell1

The physiologic importance of GABAergic neurotransmission in hypothalamic neurocircuits is unknown. To examine the importance of GABA release from agouti-related protein (AgRP) neurons (which also release AgRP and neuropeptide Y), we generated mice with an AgRP neuron–specific deletion of vesicular GABA transporter. These mice are lean, resistant to obesity and have an attenuated hyperphagic response to ghrelin. Thus, GABA release from AgRP neurons is important in regulating energy balance.

1 Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 99 Brookline Ave., Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA
2 Division of Hypothalamic Research, Departments of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, Texas 75390, USA