Resumen

VALENCIA A, Mauricio H; CASSIANI M, Carlos A; CARDONA O, Juan C  y  VILLALOBOS TALERO, Julio. Orexinergic (hypocretinergic) system and its role on sleep disorders. Salud, Barranquilla [online]. 2010, vol.26, n.2, pp.285-297. ISSN 0120-5552.

Orexins or hypocretins are recently described (1998) neuropeptides found in greater density in hypothalamic neurons, wich have been shown to be important for modulating feeding and sleep-wakefulness cycle. Orexinergic system has broad projections throughout the length and breadth of the CNS specially to monoaminergic centers such as the locus coeruleus, tuberoamilar neclei, raphe nuclei, and ventral tegmental area. Initially it was thought a key role of orexin in feedin behavior regulation, however, recent studies give a leading role to these neuropeptides in regulating the sleep-wakefulness cycle, this discovery opens a door to help better understand the operation of an area so important for the homeostasis of the human body, such as the hypothalamus, and gives some basis for a better understanding of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology in relation to eating disorders and sleep. The aim of this paper is to provide an updated review of the morphological and functional aspects that are known so far in relation to these molecules and their relationship with sleep disorders, especially their involvement in narcolepsy.

Palabras clave : Orexins; sleep disorders; narcolepsy; lateral hypothalamus.

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