Final answer:
In animal trials for the treatment of Huntington's disease, strategies that induce autophagy are being explored, including targeting signaling pathways like mTORC1 and receptor subunits related to excitotoxicity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Autophagy, a cellular degradation process, can be induced by various stressors, including starvation. In the context of Huntington's disease (HD), a genetic disorder characterized by the death of specific neurons, autophagy may play a role in the potential treatment of this condition. Animal trials are investigating therapeutic strategies that target autophagy to treat HD. One such approach involves modulating signaling pathways that can either promote or inhibit autophagy, such as the mTORC1 pathway. Although not explicitly mentioned in the provided reference materials, drugs that inhibit abnormal protein interactions or target specific receptor subunits, like the NR2B subunit of the NMDA receptor, have been investigated for their potential to prevent excitotoxicity and induce benefits in neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, some treatments that focus on other diseases, such as the use of carnitine and lipoic acid for memory performance, indicate a broader interest in metabolic pathways that could influence neuronal health and are associated with autophagy.