1 von 1 In an experiment, scientists found that the hormone FGF2 can reduce the toxic effects of alcohol — Photo: Getty Images In an experiment, scientists found that the hormone FGF2 can reduce the toxic effects of alcohol — Photo: Getty Images
American scientists could be closer to discovering a Cure for drunkenness. The key element for this would be the hormone FGF21. In tests on drunken rats, the researchers found that the substance normally produced by the liver made the animals sober almost twice as fast as those who did not receive the injection.
The research was conducted by a group from the University of Texas, Yale University and Rockefeller University, all in the United States.
- Chilean company launches lowcalorie, loweralcohol wine
- 3 tips to keep your body hydrated
According to University of Texas molecular endocrinologist David Mangelsdorf, the discovery, published this month in Cell Metabolism, could one day be used to treat alcohol poisoning, a sometimes fatal side effect of excessive alcohol consumption that sends millions of people to hospitals every year.
How the search was conducted
A Science News report notes that scientists have previously shown that when alcohol floods the bloodstream, the liver increases production of FGF21. While it doesn’t help break down alcohol molecules, it has been observed to protect the liver from the toxic effects of alcohol while reducing the craving for more drinking.
Mangelsdorf and his colleagues therefore wanted to know whether the hormone also plays a role in recovery from binge drinking. Then they got some mice drunk and waited to see how long it took the animals to wake up.
- Alcohol helped civilize mankind, says American philosopher
The results show that mice that were genetically modified so that they were unable to produce their own FGF21 took about an hour and a half longer to wake up than the others. In the case of normal mice that received a dose of FGF21, they woke up twice as fast as those that did not receive the injection. These animals could maintain their balance even longer than their peers when placed on a slowly rotating platform.
The researchers reported that the hormone likely helps animals sober up by activating nerve cells in a part of the brain involved in triggering wakefulness. If it works similarly in humans, it could be used for Mangelsdorf to bring those affected by alcohol poisoning back to consciousness.
“There is no drug to treat alcohol poisoning,” states the molecular endocrinologist. “A drug that could help people wake up would be a phenomenal improvement for treating people rushing to the emergency room,” he concludes.
Would you like to watch exclusive content from BUSINESS HOURS? Get access to the digital version.