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Hypothalamus & Animals
Hypothalamus & Animals
Megan Bolia
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
PSY 250-01
Hypothalamus & Animals
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Does the hypothalamus have a different role in animals than it does in humans? In order
to understand this, we must first know about the hypothalamus. What does the hypothalamus do?
How does it affect humans? Animals? The hypothalamus has many similarities and differences
between humans and animals.
The hypothalamus is a region of the forebrain below the thalamus that coordinates both
the autonomic nervous system and the activity of the pituitary. The hypothalamus plays a vital
role in maintaining homeostasis. Pituitary hormone secretion is controlled by the connection of
blood vessels between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland.1 The hypothalamus influences
various emotional responses.
The hypothalamus is involved in several functions of the body. Some of these functions
include sleeping, eating, thirst, blood pressure, and electrolyte balance.2 The location of the
hypothalamus is inferior to the thalamus, posterior to the optic chiasm, and borders the sides of
the temporal lobes and optic tracts.
The hypothalamus controls the nervous system by
synthesizing and discharging neuro-hormones. The hypothalamus
serves as an interface between the endocrine system, autonomous
nervous system, and the limbic system. One example of a popular
hormone released is oxytocin, which is responsible for female lactation and romance.3
Reproductive behavior is coordinated with the regulation of the endocrine and other reproductive
1
Pinel, J. P. (2011). Biopsychology as a Neuroscience. Biopsychology (Eighth ed., p. 8). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
Pinel, J. P. (2011). Biopsychology as a Neuroscience. Biopsychology (Eighth ed., p. 8). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
3
Anissimov, M. (2009, November 29). What is the Hypothalamus? (with picture).wiseGEEK: clear answers for
common questions. Retrieved March 14, 2013, from http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-the-hypothalamus.htm
2
Hypothalamus & Animals
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organs. Another important hormone is antidiuretic, which travels to the kidneys and helps the
body retain water by decreasing urinary output.4
One purpose of the hypothalamus for both humans and mammals is to appropriate
metabolic atmosphere necessary for everything within the body to function. Mammals need to
maintain certain metabolic conditions, unlike reptiles and other cold-blooded animals.
In an article written by Robert C. Byrd, the hormone kisspeptin is discussed. Kisspeptin
is crucial towards normal fertility in humans, because it plays a role in reproductive
neuroendocrinology. 5 Kisspeptin plays a major role in the onset of puberty necessary in adults.
This kisspeptin hormone is found in all mammals, specifically focused on rodents in this study.
Both sheep and humans have sexually dimorphic populations.6 Kisspeptin controls release and
timing gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus in animals tested in the
laboratory. Models of mice have showed insights of the functions of kisspeptin signaling in the
hypothalamus. 7
The central control of our ingestive behaviors are based on hypothalamic mechanisms.
Obesity is due to an indulgent lifestyle where we feel hungry. The
structure and function of many hypothalamic peptides have been
tested on rodents, such as cocaine, Melanocortins, Neuropeptide Y,
4
Anissimov, M. (2009, November 29). What is the Hypothalamus? (with picture).wiseGEEK: clear answers for
common questions. Retrieved March 14, 2013, from http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-the-hypothalamus.htm
5
Byrd, R. C. (2012). Kisspeptin neurons from mice to men: similarities and differences.. Endocrinology, 153
(11)(Nov). Retrieved March 14, 2013, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22989628?report=abstract
6
Byrd, R. C. (2012). Kisspeptin neurons from mice to men: similarities and differences.. Endocrinology, 153
(11)(Nov). Retrieved March 14, 2013, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22989628?report=abstract
7
Dungan-Lemko, E. (2012). Kiss of the mutant mouse: how genetically altered mice advanced our understanding of
kisspeptin's role in reproductive physiology.. Endocrinology, 153 (11)(November). Retrieved March 13, 2013, from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2301
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and Melanin concentrated hormone before, after, or during feeding. King at Johnson and Johnson
Pharmaceutical Research and Development tested short-term hormones such as Cholecystokinin,
Ghrelin, Glucagon-like peptide 1 to control meal size. The hormones leptin and insulin provide
long-term regulation.8
8
Lutz, T., & Woods, S. (2012). Overview of animal models of obesity.. Curr Drug Pharmacol, Chapter 5(Sept), Unit
5. Retrieved March 14, 2013, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2294884
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Hypothalamus & Animals
References
1). Pinel, J. P. (2011). Biopsychology as a Neuroscience. Biopsychology (Eighth ed., p. 8).
Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.
2). Anissimov, M. (2009, November 29). What is the Hypothalamus? (with picture).wiseGEEK:
clear answers for common questions. Retrieved March 14, 2013, from
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-the-hypothalamus.htm
3). Byrd, R. C. (2012). Kisspeptin neurons from mice to men: similarities and
differences.. Endocrinology, 153 (11)(Nov). Retrieved March 14, 2013, from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22989628?report=abstract
4). Dungan-Lemko, E. (2012). Kiss of the mutant mouse: how genetically altered mice advanced
our understanding of kisspeptin's role in reproductive physiology.. Endocrinology, 153
(11)(November). Retrieved March 13, 2013, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2301
5). Lutz, T., & Woods, S. (2012). Overview of animal models of obesity.. Curr Drug
Pharmacol, Chapter 5(Sept), Unit 5. Retrieved March 14, 2013, from
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2294884