Scientists discovered that cephalotocin, a neuromdulatory material found in the body of a small octopus, activates the V2 receptor, a material associated with antidiuretic activity. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 14 (Korea Bizwire) — The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Wednesday it had registered a patent to develop a new drug for urinary problems after discovering a neuromodulatory material in the genome of the common octopus that has the effect of reducing urination.
The ministry-affiliated National Marine Biodiversity Institute and the Korea Institute of Toxicology discovered that cephalotocin, a neuromdulatory material found in the body of a small octopus, activates the V2 receptor, a material associated with antidiuretic activity.
Cephalotocin has the effect of suppressing urination by helping humidity to be absorbed back into the body.
After injecting the cephalotocin into laboratory rats, the research team found that their urination was greatly reduced compared to the injection of saline solutions.
At the same time, the osmotic density was increased, with body wastes being normally excreted.
The research team said that cephalotocin could clear the way to develop a new medicine that acts similarly to existing antidiuretics but has fewer side effects such as an increase in blood pressure.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
