NOVEL MOLECULAR TARGETS FOR THE TREATMENT OF OBESITY

Advances in our understanding of the mechanisms underlying the develop ment of obesity have occurred over the past few years, prompted by the discovery of leptin and its role in modulating energy balance. The di scovery that leptin modulates neurotransmitter pathways in the CNS and the growing body of evidence suggesting that obesity in humans and ro dent models is associated with leptin resistance have focused attentio n on downstream CNS pathways. From these neurotransmitter systems, a s eries of novel potential targets for the development of antiobesity ag ents is emerging.