Hipokretyny (oreksyny) – rola w uzale nieniach od substancji psychoaktywnych

Hypocretins (orexins) are recently discovered neuropeptidessynthesized by neurons in the lateral hypothalamusthat have been implicated in a variety of behav -iors, e.g. food-seeking and feeding, reaction to stress,arousal and sleep. Disturbances in the central hypocretinneurotransmission are believed to underlie narcolepsy.It has also been postulated that hypocretins playan important role in the regulation of HPA axis, energyhomeostasis, acquisition and learning of reward system-stimulating signals. In this review we discuss anatomical,neurophysiological, pharmacological andbehavioral data indicating an involvement of hypocretinsin reward-seeking and addiction to psychoactivedrugs, including relapse to drug-seeking behavior afterperiods of abstinence.