Researchers studying python blood discovered a molecule called para-tyramine-O-sulfate that reduced food consumption and caused a 9 percent weight loss in obese mice.
The compound, abbreviated as pTOS, spiked more than 1,000 times in the blood of pythons after the snakes consumed prey. The dramatic surge prompted scientists to examine whether the molecule plays a direct role in controlling hunger and regulating energy intake in mammals.
The study was conducted by an international scientific team from Stanford Medicine, the University of Colorado Boulder, and collaborating research institutions. The investigators set out to understand how pythons manage their metabolism, as the constrictor snakes are capable of fasting for extended periods after devouring large meals.
Appetite reduction and mouse testing
To investigate the molecule, researchers analyzed blood samples from ball pythons and Burmese pythons taken both before and after feeding. Out of 208 blood metabolites that increased following a meal, pTOS demonstrated the most significant growth, surging by more than a thousandfold.
Scientists subsequently administered pTOS to mice, including rodents with diet-induced obesity, over a 28-day trial period. The treated mice consistently consumed less food, resulting in a 9 percent reduction in total body weight when compared to an untreated control group.
Neurological testing showed that pTOS activates specific neurons within the hypothalamus, the brain region responsible for appetite regulation and energy balance. Notably, the treatment caused no significant alterations in physical activity levels or overall energy expenditure, confirming that weight loss was driven primarily by a reduction in food intake.
Human blood findings and clinical status
Researchers also detected pTOS in human blood samples and observed that its levels increased following meals. However, the compound occurs in far smaller quantities in humans than in pythons after feeding.
Pythons are non-venomous constrictor snakes native to tropical climates, well known in comparative physiology for their extreme metabolic flexibility during digestion. The hypothalamus, located at the base of the brain, acts as a primary regulatory centre for metabolic signals and hunger in both reptiles and mammals.
Despite the promising findings in rodent models, scientists emphasized that it is premature to view pTOS as a viable weight-loss treatment for people. There are currently no clinical trials demonstrating that the compound is safe or effective for human therapeutic use. Further scientific studies will be required to determine whether the python-derived mechanism can eventually be translated into a safe treatment for obesity.
