老鼠瘦身有道 人类或能借鉴

时间：2007-06-04 01:45:42

（单词翻译:单击）

Fat mice give clue to drug against obesity1 (2003)

A chemical switch that tells cells when to burn fat and when to store it has been discovered in mice, paving the way for new drugs that could one day be used to control obesity and cholesterol2.

Scientists at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, have identified a receptor in mouse cells that supervises how fat is used in the body and influences the ease with which mice put on weight.

If a similar regulator exists in human beings, which is likely, it would be a promising3 target for drugs that stimulate4 the burning of fat to fight the developed world's growing obesity epidemic5. Genes6 that carry the blueprint7 for receptor, PPARd, could also help to explain why some people seem to eat what they like and remain thin, while others find that every extra calorie goes straight on to the waistline.

Experiments revealed that when PPARd was stimulated8, mice used up fat deposits and lost weight, while mice with low PPARd activity were prone9 to obesity.

Mice with a highly active version weighed about 20 per cent less than normal mice at birth, and 35 per cent less at the age of one. The active receptor also protected mice against obesity when fed a high-calorie and high-fat diet. The findings are published today in the journal Cell.

　

科学家近日在老鼠体内发现一种化学变化，能够表明细胞在什么时候燃烧脂肪，又在什么时候对脂肪进行储存。这一发现也许能够帮助人们进一步研制控制脂肪和胆固醇的药品。

加利福尼亚拉霍拉沙克研究所的科学家发现在老鼠的细胞中有一种感受体，负责调度分配体内的脂肪，当老鼠因为安逸而体重增加时，这一感受提也能发挥相应的作用。

如果在人类体内也能有这样一种调节器，或者利用药物来达到调节的目的，也许就能解决全球范围内愈演愈烈的肥胖问题了。构成这一名为PPARd的感受体的基因的存在，也能从某种程度上解释为什么有的人并不忌口却仍能保持身材，而有的人却仿佛摄入的所有热量都立刻囤积在了腰上。

实验显示，当PPARd受到刺激，老鼠就会消耗体内囤积的脂肪，从而使体重下降。而PPARd不活跃的老鼠则比较肥胖。

体内这一物质活跃的老鼠在出生时体重就比普通老鼠轻约20%，到一岁时则要轻35%左右。体内感受体活跃的老鼠即便吃大量高热量高脂肪的食物，也不容易发胖。这一研究结果刊登在4月18日的《细胞》杂志上。

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1 obesity Dv1ya     
n.肥胖，肥大
参考例句：
  • One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
  • Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。
2 cholesterol qrzzV     
n.（U）胆固醇
参考例句：
  • There is cholesterol in the cell of body.人体细胞里有胆固醇。
  • They are determining the serum-protein and cholesterol levels.他们正在测定血清蛋白和胆固醇的浓度。
3 promising BkQzsk     
adj.有希望的，有前途的
参考例句：
  • The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
  • We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。
4 stimulate wuSwL     
vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋
参考例句：
  • Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
  • Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。
5 epidemic 5iTzz     
n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的
参考例句：
  • That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
  • The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。
6 genes 01914f8eac35d7e14afa065217edd8c0     
n.基因( gene的名词复数 )
参考例句：
  • You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
  • Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪
7 blueprint 6Rky6     
n.蓝图，设计图，计划；vt.制成蓝图，计划
参考例句：
  • All the machine parts on a blueprint must answer each other.设计图上所有的机器部件都应互相配合。
  • The documents contain a blueprint for a nuclear device.文件内附有一张核装置的设计蓝图。
8 stimulated Rhrz78     
a.刺激的
参考例句：
  • The exhibition has stimulated interest in her work. 展览增进了人们对她作品的兴趣。
  • The award has stimulated her into working still harder. 奖金促使她更加努力地工作。
9 prone 50bzu     
adj.(to)易于…的，很可能…的；俯卧的
参考例句：
  • Some people are prone to jump to hasty conclusions.有些人往往作出轻率的结论。
  • He is prone to lose his temper when people disagree with him.人家一不同意他的意见,他就发脾气。

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