Elimination of specific neurons outside the brain triggers obesity

A research team led by Ana Domingos, from Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia (IGC; Portugal) has developed a new genetic technique that eliminates specific neurons of the peripheral nervous system without affecting the brain. Using this novel technique in mice, the researchers studied the function of the neurons that innervate the adipose tissue, and saw that their elimination results in mice gaining weight very quickly. Published on April 3 in Nature Communications, this technique opens new avenues for the study of many diseases related to the peripheral nervous system and to other cells outside the brain.