Scientists have developed a therapy for drinking green monkeys. An article about this was published in the journal Cell Metabolism.

Green monkeys are well suited as model animals for the study of alcoholism, as they are known for their addiction to liquor, and even sometimes steal it from bar patrons.

In a new study, scientists from the University of Iowa found that an analogue of the hormone FGF21, a fibroblast growth factor produced by the liver, suppresses the desire to drink in green monkeys and mice.

“Mammals began consuming alcohol from fermented fruits long before humans invented distillation,” write Matthew Potthoff and his colleagues. “Given the negative health impacts of excessive alcohol consumption, it is not surprising that many body systems have evolved to protect against the effects of alcohol.”

During the experiment, 20 male monkeys with a penchant for alcohol were allowed to drink alcohol for four hours every day for four days. After that, they were divided into two groups, one received a placebo, and the second - an analogue of FGF21. The monkeys who received the therapy reduced their alcohol consumption by 50 percent.

Now scientists hope that such therapy can be adapted to treat people.

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