The Hypocretin/Orexin Neuronal networks in zebrafish

Idan Elbaz, Talia Levitas-Djerbi, Lior Appelbaum

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

The hypothalamic Hypocretin/Orexin (Hcrt) neurons secrete two Hcrt neuropeptides. These neurons and peptides play a major role in the regulation of feeding, sleep wake cycle, reward-seeking, addiction, and stress. Loss of Hcrt neurons causes the sleep disorder narcolepsy. The zebrafish has become an attractive model to study the Hcrt neuronal network because it is a transparent vertebrate that enables simple genetic manipulation, imaging of the structure and function of neuronal circuits in live animals, and high-throughput monitoring of behavioral performance during both day and night. The zebrafish Hcrt network comprises ~16–60 neurons, which similar to mammals, are located in the hypothalamus and widely innervate the brain and spinal cord, and regulate various fundamental behaviors such as feeding, sleep, and wakefulness. Here we review how the zebrafish contributes to the study of the Hcrt neuronal system molecularly, anatomically, physiologically, and pathologically.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationCurrent Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences
PublisherSpringer Verlag
Pages75-92
Number of pages18
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017

Publication series

NameCurrent Topics in Behavioral Neurosciences
Volume33
ISSN (Print)1866-3370
ISSN (Electronic)1866-3389

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016, Springer International Publishing AG.

Funding

This work was supported by the Israel Science Foundation (grant no. 690/15), the Legacy Heritage Biomedical Program of the Israel Science Foundation (grant no. 992/14), and by the US-Israel Binational Science Foundation (BSF, grant no. 2011335). IE is supported by the Nehemia Levtzion scholarship from the Council for Higher Education, Israel.

FundersFunder number
Nehemia Levtzion
United States-Israel Binational Science Foundation2011335
Israel Science Foundation690/15, 992/14
Council for Higher Education

    Keywords

    • Behavior
    • Hypocretin
    • Narcolepsy
    • Orexin
    • Sleep
    • Zebrafish

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