Orexigenic neuron

Orexigenic neurons are not a single molecular target but rather a **functional classification** for populations of neurons that promote food intake and increase appetite. The term "orexigenic" refers to the ability to stimulate hunger or feeding behavior. These neurons are primarily found in the hypothalamus and include several distinct neuronal types, most notably **orexin (hypocretin) neurons** in the lateral hypothalamus and **Agouti-related peptide (AgRP) neurons** in the arcuate nucleus[3][4][5]. Orexinergic neurons release neuropeptides such as orexin-A and orexin-B, which regulate arousal, wakefulness, energy expenditure, and appetite[3][6]. AgRP/NPY-expressing neurons also play a major role in stimulating feeding. Because "orexigenic neuron" is a broad functional category rather than a specific molecule or receptor, it is not considered an individual therapeutic target. Instead, drug development efforts focus on specific molecular components within these neuronal populations—such as the orexin receptors OX1R/OX2R or neuropeptide Y receptors—rather than targeting all "orexigenic neurons" collectively[3]. Therefore: - The entry is **not suitable as a canonical therapeutic target**, since it refers to multiple cell types defined by function rather than by unique molecular identity. - For structured data purposes or drug discovery databases focused on molecules/receptors/enzymes/etc., this entry should be flagged as incorrect/incomplete. If you need information about specific targets within this group—such as "Orexin receptor type 1," "Orexin receptor type 2," or "Agouti-related peptide"—please specify for more precise data.

Other names

Appetite-stimulating neuronFeeding-promoting neuronHunger-stimulating neuron