Hamsters Hopped up on Hormones

Here we are again talking about CRISPR - but this time not because of an illegal human gene editing experiment. This time it is a completely legal gene editing experiment on hamsters. At Georgia State University, scientists used CRISPR to turn off the receptors for vasopressin in Syrian hamsters. Vasopressin is a hormone used as an antidiuretic medically. In layman's terms, it tells your body to retain water.

In case you were wondering, yes, vasopressin is important in your life; the suppression of vasopressin is why excessive urination is a thing when drinking alcohol. Apparently, vasopressin is also associated with aggression. Who knew? So, what happened to the hamsters? Well, the expected result was that the hamsters would be more docile and less social, but the exact opposite is what occurred. Hamsters of the same sex were more aggressive with each other to the point where fights were occurring within the cages.

What does this mean? It means that the receptor for vasopressin has more functions than scientists initially thought which also means that despite having extensive literature on vasopressin and its receptor, we know less than we thought about how the hormone and its receptor work together and impact the body. Understanding how hormones interact with their receptors, just in general, could help us move forward with behavioral science and better understand disorders like ADHD and develop more effective medical therapies to help manage them.

Speaking of hormones, did you know that you can overdose on them? There has been a recent spike (within this year) of melatonin poisoning in children. What is melatonin? Like vasopressin, melatonin is a hormone. Melatonin is involved in your sleep cycle; you naturally produce melatonin when your body "knows" it is time to go to bed. Intake of melatonin is used to help those with insomnia or other sleep disorders, jet lag, shift work disorder, and regulate the circadian rhythm of blind people. Melatonin is also something that can be purchased over the counter at most drug stores and grocery stores, and it is even marketed towards both adults and children. So, what is the issue with the melatonin overdoses in children? The overdoses seem to be mostly accidental - melatonin gummies look and taste like candy so it would be easy for a small child to mistake melatonin for a sweet treat. In addition, because melatonin is a hormone, some people believe that it is not possible to overdose on it and will consume and give more of the recommended dose. And sometimes, the dose of melatonin that the label shows are actually lower than what is actually in the gummy.

What do you do if you suspect you or your child has overdosed on melatonin? Depending on the symptoms, you should either call the Poison Control Center or take a trip to the ER. If the symptoms are difficulty breathing, vomiting, and/or slurred words, a trip to the ER is probably the best option. Unlike venoms or other drugs, there isn't a neutralizer (ie: antivenom after a snakebite) nor reverse treatment (ie: opioid overdoses can be reversed with Narcan) that can be given. Usually, there is just some level of supportive care and monitoring/observation and in some cases stomach pumping. It pays to read the medical label, but it also pays to do research on whatever it is you're thinking of taking. Knowledge in this case is both powerful and potentially lifesaving.