In search of a satiety factor

Cloning of murine 'obese' (ob) gene producing a hormone secreted by fat cells may play an important role in regulating total fat mass through the formation of a signalling pathway. It is also possible that there exists a fat-derived satiety factor produced from adipose tissue, inhibiting food intake, thus controlling body weight. However, the origin of ob protein has not yet been traced to the adipose tissue, and so conclusions should not be drawn on the function of ob gene as the satiety factor.