The bone spur of a male platypus is located on the hind limbs, and secretes their venom/ Wikimedia Commons Now this new research, published in Scientific Reports, has discovered that platypuses and their relatives have evolved a longer-lasting GLP hormone naturally, allowing for the possibility of a novel treatment to be developed. Treatment currently involves giving patients medication that contains a longer lasting variant of the hormone, making the cells more responsive, to give extended insulin release. It can also be caused by abnormally high glucagon levels in the blood, which counter-acts the effect of insulin. With type 2 diabetes, the GLP hormone is not enough to manage the blood sugar levels, due to cells being unable to properly respond to the amount of insulin released.
However, it has a short life, breaking down within minutes. This hormone causes insulin to be a released into our bodies to reduce our blood sugar levels. To be able to release insulin, humans and animals have create a substance in their gut called glucagon-like peptide (GLP) hormone.
It is insulin that creates the problems in diabetics. Our blood sugar levels are controlled by hormones produced by our pancreas: glucagon increases the amount of sugar in our blood, and insulin lowers it. Evolutionary pressures have caused the hormone that is produced in both the platypus’ gut and venom to be highly effective, and this may soon reap benefits for humans.
New research led by the University of Adelaide and Flinders University has revealed that a possible treatment for type 2 diabetes could originate from platypus ( Ornithorhynchus anatinus) venom.
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