Neuroendocrine hypothalamus as a homeostat of endogenous time

Abstract

The concept of the hypothalamus as a brain structure responsible for metabolic and thermal homeostasis of an organism emerged in the 60s and 70s of the XX century (hypothalamus as a homeostatic or thermal homeostat). In the following decades, studies of molecular mechanisms behind the genesis of circadian and circannual rhythms sinificantly expanded our knowledge of hypothalamic functions. According to current ideas, hypothalamic nuclei function as pacemakers for other structures and trigger various processes that have different temporal parameters (latency, velocity, duration, periodicity, sequentiality, density) and form together the organism’s endogenous time. In this review, the authors analyze some features of local networks in the hypothalamic nuclei and formulate the principles of neuropeptide action underlying the homeostatic regulation of the endogenous time by the hypothalamus.