An injection of a hormonal treatment ends the most common symptoms of drunkenness, such as loss of balance and coordination, as confirmed in a study published in “Cell Metabolism”. The therapy has only been tested in mice injected with a hormone called fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21).
The key is in the liver, explains the co-lead author of the study, Steven Kliewer of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (USA). “We found that the liver is not only involved in alcohol metabolism, but also sends a hormonal signal to the brain to protect against the harmful effects of intoxication, including loss of consciousness and coordination.”
Additionally, research has shown that by increasing FGF21 concentrations via injection, “we can drastically speed up recovery from poisoning. FGF21 does this by activating a very specific part of the brain that controls alertness,” says Kliewer.
Consumption of ethanol produced by the natural fermentation of simple sugars in ripening fruits and nectars can cause intoxication, impairing mobility and judgment. Animals that consume fructose and other simple sugars have evolved liver enzymes to break down ethanol.
FGF21 is a hormone that is induced in the liver by a variety of metabolic stresses, including starvation, protein deficiency, simple sugars, and ethanol.
In humans, ethanol is by far the most potent inducer of FGF21 described to date. Previous studies showed that FGF21 suppresses preference for ethanolinduces water drinking to prevent dehydration and protects against alcohol-induced liver injury.
The new study, Kliewer shows that FGF21 plays a broader role than previously thought in defending against the harmful consequences of ethanol exposure.
In mice, the FGF21 ‘shot’ stimulated intoxication arousal without changing ethanol breakdown. Mice lacking FGF21 took longer than their littermates to regain your reflexes and balance after exposure to ethanol. In contrast, pharmacological administration of FGF21 reduced the time required for mice to recover from ethanol-induced unconsciousness and muscle incoordination.
FGF21 injection stimulated intoxication arousal without changing ethanol breakdown
Surprisingly, FGF21 did not counteract sedation caused by ketamine, diazepam, or pentobarbital, indicating specificity for ethanol.
Taken together, the results suggest that the FGF21 liver-brain pathway evolved to protect against ethanol-induced intoxication.
According to the authors, this pathway can modulate a variety of cognitive and emotional functions to improve survival under stressful conditions.
anti-intoxicating activity
However, whether activation of the noradrenergic system contributes to the other effects of FGF21, including those on metabolism and ethanol and sweet preference, remains to be determined. Although both FGF21 and noradrenergic nervous system activity are induced by ethanol in humans, additional studies will also be required to determine if FGF21’s antiintoxicant activity translates to humans.