incretin
IN-kruh-tin
Definition
A type of metabolic hormone, such as GLP-1, that is released by the gut into the bloodstream after eating to stimulate insulin secretion and regulate glucose levels.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'increscere' (to increase) plus the suffix '-in' for a chemical substance, coined to describe hormones that trigger an increase in insulin production.
In the news
The article refers to semaglutide and its related 'incretin drugs' to explain how these medications mimic naturally occurring gut hormones to influence metabolism and appetite.
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