leptin
noun [ U ] biology specialized uk/ˈlep.tɪn/ us/ˈlep.tɪn/
消瘦素(一种激素)
a hormone (= a chemical made in the body) that controls feelings of hunger and the way the body stores fat
The identification of the hormone leptin transformed obesity research. 消瘦素的发现从根本上改变了有关肥胖的研究。
Leptin acts in the brain of rodents to reduce appetite. 消瘦素在啮齿类动物的大脑中起作用,降低食欲。
Compare: ghrelin
- More examples
- Researchers isolated a natural hormone they called leptin, which tells the brain that the body has enough fatty tissue.
- While adding leptin to obese mice made them slimmer, it hasn't worked very well in humans.
- People who routinely slept five hours a night had a higher level of ghrelin and a lower level of leptin than those who slept eight hours.