Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Why pot gives you the munchies
Columbia University scientists are gaining a new understanding of why marijuana gives you the munchies. While the brain's cannabinoid receptors are involved, the specifics have been a mystery. From a press release:
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.Link to press release, Link to abstract of scientific paper
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.
posted by David Pescovitz at 02:09:04 PM permalink | Other blogs' comments
