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Snail Toxin May Help Against Depression and Other Mental Problems

Posted Aug 21, 2006 at 05:49PM by Victor B. Listed in: Mental Health Tags: University of Utah, pharmacology
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Picture of the Conus omaria. Credit: Kerry Matz, Univ. of UtahA new toxin discovered by scientists at the University of Utah could very well help end many of the mental problems people face in this day and age. Perhaps more importantly for readers who don't have to worry about Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease, the new toxin may also help treat depression once fully developed.


The toxin comes from a species of snail in the Pacific called the Conus omaria. This toxin, now known as alpha conotoxin Om1A (oh-em-one-ay), is known for its ability to grab onto nicotine receptors in the brain, the same receptors that are affected every time you smoke. Because of this, the toxin would be especially helpful in treating mental diseases that work by affecting those parts of the brain.

Unlike nicotine, however, Om1A can hit different kinds of nicotinic receptors. For instance, Parkinson's disease means a decrease in dopamine levels, so a variant of the toxin to latch onto the receptors associated with dopamine release could be made. The same idea goes for the receptors that affect Alzheimer's and clinical depression.

Of course, the development of an actual drug is still far away, since using pure toxin wouldn't probably be a good idea. About 10 to 20 years is the current scientific estimate, so it may just be in time for you if you happen to develop Alzheimer's disease. Let's hope we can remember to get some when the time comes.

[Via Science Daily] Permalink  |   Email this  |   Linking Blogs   |   Digg It!

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