Salk Institute researchers develop exercise in a pill
From FutureNovo - Anticipating things to come
A research team at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, CA have developed a drug that, when combined with exercise, boosted endurance in mice by 60-75%. The drug increases the expression of the gene called PPAR delta which changes the metabolic properties of the animals' muscles. In addition to the increased endurance, the mice showed a resistance to weight gain even when fed a high-fat diet. The drugs are unrelated to steroids which increase strength, but do not improve endurance.
The team of scientists is led by Howard Hughes Medical Investigator Ronald M. Evans, Ph.D., a professor in the Salk Institute’s Gene Expression Laboratory. Following the identification of two signaling pathways that are activated in response to exercise, the team developed oral drugs that mimic the effects. As well as its potential appeal to athletes, the drugs may offer considerable benefit in treating certain muscle diseases as well obesity.
