Hypothalamus: Brainstem Interactions in Homeostasis

In recent years, there has been a resurgence of research interest in the role of the hypothalamus in a variety of regulatory and behavioral functions, from feeding and energy homeostasis to circadian rhythms, thermoregulation and blood pressure control. Nearly every homeostatic function influenced by the hypothalamus is subject to a dysregulation that becomes manifest in a disease process. Elucidating the neuropharmacology of the hypothalamic-brainstem circuits that play such a significant role in homeostatic regulation can contribute to the design of novel therapeutic approaches. In assembling the most recent knowledge about the structural and functional organization of hypothalamic-brainstem autonomic pathways regulating homeostasis and reproduction, this book provides a unique opportunity to appreciate the multifaceted role of hypothalamic neural circuits in maintaining homeostasis, to understand the critical role played by hypothalamic-brainstem interactions and to recognize the many parallels in organization and occurrences of cross-talk among the hypothalamic regulatory systems.