The Hypothalamus

The Hypothalamus

     The hypothalamus is a part of the brain found in the middle line of the brain, approximately 2.5 inch behind the base of the nose. It's a small organ but has multiple roles. It regulates homeostatic processes throughout the whole body, acts as regulator for input from various regions of the brain and has endocrine function.

     It's endocrine function consists of determining the rhythm of hormone secretion. It sends substances in the bloodstream that have indirect control over glands(e.g. Somatostatin, GH, TSH, ACTH, MSH etc.) It can do this by analysing and processing feedback from the periphery or outside the body and integrating them into signals sent to organs.

     The neurovegetative hypothalamus controls vital signs, blood pressure, pulse, hearth frequency, breathing, libido, spermatogenesis or menstruation, regulates temperature, human behaviour, thirst and hunger.
This last aspect raised the attention of scientists all over the world in trying to find the magic substance, that makes you hungry or full, to be used in patients who need to loose weight. Some of them have already been found and the quest for agonists and antagonists has begun; many substances have been put to the long test of clinical trials to prove their efficiency, e.g. PYY, NPY, AgRP, ghrelin, leptin, CCK , but who knows which will be the one that can truly loose weight.

     Maybe the secret of true weight loss lies in the power of determination and will and less in chemical compounds...

Taranabant is the generic name given to a new trial medication being tested for the fight against obesity. So far this medication looks promising.

1. Propanamide, N-[(1S,2S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(3-cyanophenyl)-1-methylpropyl]-2-methyl-2-[[5-(trifluoromethyl)-2-pyridinyl]oxy]-
2.N-[(1S,2S)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(3-cyanophenyl)-1-methylpropyl]-2-methyl-2-[[5-(trifluoromethyl)pyridin-2-yl]oxy]propanamide