The sleep disorder canine narcolepsy is caused by a mutation in the hypocretin (orexin) receptor 2 gene

Article Abstract:

The autosomal recessive mutation that causes narcolepsy was investigated in a well-established canine model though positional cloning. Results revealed that the disruption of the hypocretin (orexin) receptor 2 gene (Hcrtr2) was the cause of canine narcolepsy, suggesting that hypocretins and Hcrtr2 are the major neuromodulators of sleep in interaction with aminergic and cholinergic systems. These findings provide new potential therapeutic approaches to human narcolepsy.

Diseases, Dogs, Dog diseases

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Narcolepsy in orexin knockout mice: molecular genetics of sleep regulation

Article Abstract:

A study of orexin knockout mice reveals a phenotype that has a striking resemblance to humans suffering from narcolepsy. They also exhibit similarities with canarc-1 mutant dogs, narcolepsy's only known monogenic model. The findings, which also include the activation of orexin-containing neuron with the use of modafinil, provide evidence of orexin's function in the regulation of the state of wakefulness and sleep and provides a useful model for human narcolepsy.

Mice, Mice (Rodents), Sleep disorders

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Orexins and orexin receptors: a family of hypothalamic neuropeptides and G protein-coupled receptors that regulate feeding behavior

Article Abstract:

Research was conducted to study the influence of orexins and orexin receptors on feeding and energy homeostasis. Anti-orexin-A antiserum was prepared in rabbits by immunization while transfectant cells were loaded with Fura-2 AM in suspension. Results showed that synthetic human orexin-B acted as a specific agonist on cells in a parallel set of experiments. They also suggested that there was an additional orexin receptor for which orexin-B had high affinity.

Analysis, Physiological aspects, G proteins, Neuropeptides, Homeostasis

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