The study indicates that the effects of inhibiting ABHD6 can vary depending on the brain area targeted; while it promotes weight gain in hypothalamic neurons, inhibiting it in the nucleus accumbens can reduce weight gain.

Fulton's team emphasized that their method shows no signs of mood disturbances, which is a significant improvement over past weight-loss drugs like Rimonabant that caused severe side effects.

Injections of a targeted ABHD6 inhibitor into the brains of mice effectively prevented weight gain and obesity, particularly when the mice were on a high-fat diet.

A recent study led by medical professor Stephanie Fulton at Université de Montréal's CRCHUM, published on December 16, 2024, in Nature Communications, explores the neuronal control over appetite and metabolism.

Researchers discovered that endocannabinoids in the brain significantly influence food intake and energy expenditure, suggesting that modulation of these compounds could provide a new approach to combat obesity.

Key findings reveal that inhibiting the enzyme ABHD6, which degrades the endocannabinoid 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), can reduce body weight and increase physical activity in mice.

Interestingly, deleting the ABHD6 gene in the nucleus accumbens led to reduced motivation for food and increased interest in physical activities such as running.

These findings support the potential for developing therapies aimed at obesity and metabolic disorders like type 2 diabetes, although further research is needed to validate effects in humans.

The research suggests potential therapeutic pathways for combating obesity and metabolic disorders, but the translational potential to humans remains uncertain.

Funding for this important study was provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health, the Montreal Diabetes Research Center, and other organizations.

The nucleus accumbens, a brain region rich in endocannabinoids, plays a crucial role in regulating body weight, food reward, and physical activity.

The study highlights the importance of targeting specific neuronal pathways in the brain for effective obesity treatment.