Orexin A activates locus coeruleus cell firing and increases arousal in the rat

We describe a hypothalamus-specific mRNA that encodes preprohypocretin, the putative precursor of a pair of peptides that share substantial amino acid identities with the gut hormone secretin. The hypocretin (Hcrt) protein products are restricted to neuronal cell bodies of the dorsal and lateral hypothalamic areas. The fibers of these neurons are widespread throughout the posterior hypothalamus and project to multiple targets in other areas, including brainstem and thalamus. Hcrt immunoreactivity is associated with large granular vesicles at synapses. One of the Hcrt peptides was excitatory when applied to cultured, synaptically coupled hypothalamic neurons, but not hippocampal neurons. These observations suggest that the hypocretins function within the CNS as neurotransmitters.

The expression pattern of mRNA encoding two orexin receptors (OX1R and OX2R) in the rat brain was examined. OX1R and OX2R exhibited marked differential distribution. Within the hypothalamus, OX1R mRNA is most abundant in the ventromedial hypothalamic nucleus whereas OX2R is predominantly expressed in the paraventricular nucleus. High levels of OX1R mRNA were also detected in tenia tecta, the hippocampal formation, dorsal raphe, and locus coeruleus. OX2R mRNA is mainly expressed in cerebral cortex, nucleus accumbens, subthalamic and paraventricular thalamic nuclei, anterior pretectal nucleus. The presence of orexin receptor mRNA in the hypothalamus is in support of its proposed role in feeding regulation. Broad central distribution of orexin receptors may indicate additional functions for orexins.