Involvement of the Brain Orexinergic System in Sleep–Wake Cycle Regulation

Abstract

The paper considers recent studies of brain orexinergic system in animals and humans. The considered neurotransmitter system is involved in the regulation of a wide spectrum of brain responses occurring in living organisms during wakefulness. This study reflects the current concept of the triggering role of orexins A and B in initiation of awakening and cites scientific opinions of a number of leading researchers on the studied problem. Orexin-containing neurons located in the hypothalamus play one of the top roles in the regulation of brain aminergic systems during active wakefulness. The summary of scientific data accumulated in the past ten years makes it possible to sufficiently extend the existing concepts of the sleep–wake cycle regulation mechanisms. The progress in revealing relationships and events in the brain that are necessary for normal sleep–wake changeover forms the basis for developing new methods for correction of disorders of these processes.