agouti
uh-GOO-tee
Definition
Refers to a specific protein (agouti-related peptide) expressed by certain neurons that influence appetite, metabolism, and energy balance.
Etymology
Derived from the name of the agouti, a South American rodent, whose coat color is produced by a specific distribution of pigment; the name ultimately originates from the Tupí language of Brazil.
In the news
In the article, the term appears in 'AgRP neurons,' describing the specific brain cells that researchers studied to see how they coordinate metabolic responses to weight loss.
Scientists assumed semaglutide’s long-term effects would depend on silencing the brain’s hunger neurons. But a Yale-led study published in PNAS in August 2026 found that prolonged treatment recruited these neurons in female mice—and disrupting them w
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com