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Der Neurotransmitter Hypokretin

Ein Überblick

Hypocretin: an overview

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Zusammenfassung

Hypokretine (Orexine) sind 1998 entdeckte exzitatorische Neuropeptide, welche im posterolateralen Hypothalamus produziert werden. Diese Neurotransmitter spielen bei der Regulation von Schlaf und Wachheit eine entscheidende Rolle. Bei Patienten mit Narkolepsie-Kataplexie ist die Hypokretinneurotransmission vermindert, in der Klinik messbar durch erniedrigte Hypokretinspiegel im Liquor. Die Ursache dieser Defizienz ist nicht klar, eine autoimmunologische Genese wird diskutiert. Bei anderen Hypersomnieformen und Schlaf-Wach-Störungen ist die Hypokretinneurotransmission nur selten gestört. Weitere Funktionen der Hypokretine umfassen die Regulation der Nahrungsaufnahme und neuroendokriner Mechanismen.

Summary

Hypocretins (orexins) are recently discovered excitatory neuropeptides produced only in the posterolateral hypothalamus. These neurotransmitters play a key role in sleep-waking regulation. In patients with narcolepsy and cataplexy, hypocretin neurotransmission is deficient, as demonstrated by low or undetectable levels of hypocretin-1 in the cerebrospinal fluid. The etiology of this deficiency is not clear. In most patients with other hypersomnolent syndromes or sleep-waking disturbances, hypocretin neurotransmission is normal. Other functions of the hypocretins include the regulation of food intake and of neuroendocrine mechanisms.

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  1. Neurologische Klinik, Universitätsspital Zürich

    C. Baumann & C. Bassetti

  2. Neurologische Klinik, Universitätsspital Zürich, Frauenklinikstrasse 26, 8091 , Zürich

    C. Baumann

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Baumann, C., Bassetti, C. Der Neurotransmitter Hypokretin. Nervenarzt 75, 317–323 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00115-003-1631-1

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