Functional screening of established and experimental weight loss drugs in terms of their effects on central dopamine release kinetics
Alabdali, Rana.
2018
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Abstract: Obesity is considered to be one of the main and important causes of
morbidity, mortality, and limited life quality. There are many reasons and theories
explaining the mechanism obesity and one of these theories is the brain Dopaminergic
signaling pathway. It has shown that dopamine plays a major role in obesity; it has
revealed that obese subjects have limited dopamine receptors whic... read moreh in turn impair brain
dopamine circuit and this will lead the obese subject to eat more as a compensatory
mechanism to overcome the dopaminergic limitation. However, some anti-obesity medications
work on the dopamine pathway and correct this defect. In this study, we examine some
medication such as Topiramate and NAAA inhibitor to see if they have any role in reducing
weight through the dopaminergic system. We use electrophysiological methods to examine the
dopamine release from the brain striatum and compare it with the baseline release. At the
end of this study, Topiramate has shown a high reduction in the dopamine release when
compared with the baseline release. However, NAAA inhibitor showed the opposite. It has
displayed that NAAA inhibitor increase dopamine release comparing with the baseline
dopamine release. In conclusion, we are assuming that Topiramate reduces weight through a
different mechanism other than increasing dopamine level. In contrast, NAAA inhibitor may
show a reduction in weight through a different mechanism as well. Further investigation is
needed in order to understand the link between obesity and dopaminergic signaling
pathway.
Thesis (M.S.)--Tufts University, 2018.
Submitted to the Dept. of Pharmacology and Drug Development.
Advisor: Emmanuel Pothos.
Committee: Efi Kokkotou.
Keyword: Nanoscience.read less - ID:
- dn39xd461
- Component ID:
- tufts:26030
- To Cite:
- DCA Citation Guide EndNote
