de Lecea L, Sutcliffe J G
Department of Molecular Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
Cell Mol Life Sci. 1999 Oct 30;56(5-6):473-80. doi: 10.1007/s000180050446.
The hypothalamus regulates diverse physiological functions, including the control of energy metabolism, circadian rhythms, stress and anxiety, sexual and reproductive behaviors. An overview of the most prevalent hypothalamus-enriched mRNAs revealed that this area of the brain specializes in producing intercellular signaling molecules. Two new secreted peptides derived from a single neuropeptide precursor, named hypocretins and orexins by two different groups, are synthesized in a small set of neurons in the perifornical area of the hypothalamus. Intracerebroventricular injection of the hypocretins/orexins increases food consumption in rats. Here we review recent progress in identifying the role of the hypocretins/orexins in the control of energy balance and in other physiological systems.
下丘脑调节多种生理功能，包括能量代谢控制、昼夜节律、应激和焦虑、性行为和生殖行为。对最普遍的下丘脑富集mRNA的概述表明，大脑的这一区域专门产生细胞间信号分子。由单一神经肽前体衍生而来的两种新的分泌肽，被两个不同的研究小组分别命名为下丘脑分泌素和食欲素，在下丘脑穹窿周区的一小群神经元中合成。脑室内注射下丘脑分泌素/食欲素可增加大鼠的食物摄入量。在此，我们综述了在确定下丘脑分泌素/食欲素在能量平衡控制及其他生理系统中的作用方面的最新进展。
