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Neuroendocrine Role of the Orexins (Hypocretins)

  • Chapter
The Orexin/Hypocretin System

Part of the book series: Contemporary Clinical Neuroscience ((CCNE))

Abstract

Although the orexin (hypocretin) neuron cell bodies are exclusively located in the lateral perifornical hypothalamus (the classical “feeding center”), they send projections throughout the neuraxis (1,2). This suggests that orexin neuropeptides and their receptors have functions beyond their originally observed effects on food intake and their currently accepted pivotal role in the regulation of sleep and wakefulness (3–6). In particular, orexin fibers have been observed to innervate several brain, and specifically hypothalamic, regions that are intimately involved in the regulation of pituitary hormone secretion. Therefore, a link between the orexins and pituitary hormone secretion appeared highly likely from the outset. This view was underscored by the observed role of orexins in sleep regulation, since the secretion of some hormones is closely linked to circadian rhythms (e.g., corticotrophin, [AC TH]) and sleep (e.g., growth hormone).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Henry Wellcome Laboratories for Integrative Neuroscience and Endocrinology, University of Bristol, UK

    Shahrad Taheri MD, PhD

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  1. Shahrad Taheri MD, PhD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Narcolepsy, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA

    Seiji Nishino MD, PhD

  2. Department of Pharmacology Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

    Takeshi Sakurai MD, PhD

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© 2006 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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Taheri, S. (2006). Neuroendocrine Role of the Orexins (Hypocretins). In: Nishino, S., Sakurai, T. (eds) The Orexin/Hypocretin System. Contemporary Clinical Neuroscience. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-950-8:119

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