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Role of orexin receptors in obesity: from cellular to behavioral evidence

International Journal of Obesity volume 37, pages 167–174 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

The orexin peptides and their two receptors are involved in multiple physiological processes, including energy homeostasis, arousal, stress and reward. Higher signaling of the orexin peptides at the orexin receptors (OXR) protects against obesity, but it is less clear how their activation in different brain regions contributes to this behavioral output. This review summarizes the evidence available for a role of central OXR in energy homeostasis and their contribution to obesity. A detailed analysis of anatomical, cellular and behavioral evidence shows that modulation of energy homeostasis by the OXR is largely dependent upon anatomical and cellular context. It also shows that obesity resistance provided by activation of the OXR is distributed across multiple brain sites with site-specific actions. We suggest that understanding the role of the OXR in the development of obesity requires considering both specific mechanisms within brain regions and interactions of orexinergic input between multiple sites.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr Joshua Nixon, Dr Jennifer Teske and Dr Vijaya Mavanji for valuable discussions and suggestions to this article. This study was supported by funding from the National Institute of Health, NIDDK, DK078985.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neuroscience, Graduate Program of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    C E Perez-Leighton

  2. Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    C E Perez-Leighton & C M Kotz

  3. GRECC, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    C E Perez-Leighton, T A Butterick-Peterson & C M Kotz

  4. Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN, USA

    T A Butterick-Peterson & C M Kotz

  5. Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    C J Billington

  6. Minnesota Obesity Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    C J Billington

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  1. C E Perez-Leighton
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  2. T A Butterick-Peterson
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  3. C J Billington
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Correspondence to C E Perez-Leighton.

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Perez-Leighton, C., Butterick-Peterson, T., Billington, C. et al. Role of orexin receptors in obesity: from cellular to behavioral evidence. Int J Obes 37, 167–174 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2012.30

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/ijo.2012.30

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