Functions of Hypothalamus

Hypothalamus is the important part of brain, concerned with homeostasis of the

body. It regulates many vital functions of the body like endocrine functions, visceral
functions, metabolic activities, hunger, thirst, sleep, wakefulness, emotion, sexual
functions, etc.
1. Secretion Of Posterior Pituitary Hormones
Hypothalamus is the site of synthesis & secretion for
the posterior pituitary hormones. Antidiuretic
hormone (ADH) and oxytocin are secreted by
supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei. These two
hormones are transported by means of axonic or
axoplasmic flow through the fibers of
hypothalamohypophyseal tracts to posterior pituitary
2. Control Of Anterior Pituitary
Hypothalamus controls the secretions of anterior pituitary gland by secreting releasing
hormones and inhibitory hormones. It secretes seven hormones.
i. Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH)
ii. Growth hormone-releasing polypeptide (GHRP)
iii. Growth hormone-inhibiting hormone (GHIH) or somatostatin
iv. Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH)
v. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
vi. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
vii. Prolactin-inhibiting hormone (PIH).
These hormones are secreted by discrete areas of hypothalamus and transported to
anterior pituitary by the hypothalamohypophyseal portal blood vessels
3. Control Of Adrenal Cortex
Anterior pituitary regulates adrenal cortex by secreting adrenocorticotropic
hormone (ACTH). ACTH secretion is in turn regulated by corticotropin-releasing
hormone (CRH), which is secreted by the paraventricular nucleus of hypothalamus.
 4. Control Of Adrenal Medulla
Dorsomedial and posterior hypothamic nuclei are excited by emotional stimuli.
These hypothalamic nuclei, in turn, send impulses to adrenal medulla through
sympathetic fibers and cause release of catecholamines, which are essential to cope
up with emotional stress

5. Regulation Of Autonomic Nervous System

Hypothalamus controls autonomic nervous system (ANS). Sympathetic division of
ANS is regulated by posterior and lateral nuclei of hypothalamus. Parasympathetic
division of ANS is controlled by anterior group of nuclei. The effects of cerebral
cortex on ANS are executed through hypothalamus.

6. Regulation Of Heart Rate

Hypothalamus regulates heart rate through vasomotor center in the medulla
oblongata. Stimulation of posterior and lateral nuclei of hypothalamus increases the
heart rate. Stimulation of preoptic and anterior nuclei decreases the heart rate.

7. Regulation Of Blood Pressure

Hypothalamus regulates the blood pressure by acting on the vasomotor center.
Stimulation of posterior and lateral hypothalamic nuclei increases arterial blood
pressure and stimulation of preoptic area decreases the blood pressure

8. Regulation Of Body Temperature

Body temperature is regulated by hypothalamus, which sets the normal range of
body temperature. The set point, under normal physiological conditions is 37°C.
Hypothalamus has two centers which regulate the body temperature:
a. Heat loss center that is present in preoptic nucleus of anterior hypothalamus
b. Heat gain center that is situated in posterior hypothalamic nucleus.

9. Regulation Of Hunger And Food Intake

Food intake is regulated by two centers present in hypothalamus:
i. Feeding center
ii. Satiety center.
i. Feeding Center is in the lateral hypothalamic nucleus. In experimental conditions,
stimulation of this center in animals leads to uncontrolled hunger and increased
 food intake (hyperphagia), resulting in obesity. Destruction of feeding center leads
to loss of appetite (anorexia) and the animal refuses to take food. Normally, feeding
center is always active. That means, it has the tendency to induce food intake
always.
iii. Satiety center is in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus. Stimulation of
this nucleus in animals causes total loss of appetite and cessation of food intake.
Destruction of satiety center leads to hyperphagia and the animal becomes obese.
This type of obesity is called hypothalamic obesity. Satiety center plays an important
role in the regulation of food intake by temporary inhibition of feeding center after
food intake.

10.Regulation Of Water Balance

Hypothalamus regulates water content of the body by two mechanisms:
i. Thirst mechanism
ii. Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) mechanism.

11.Regulation Of Sleep And Wakefulness

Mamillary body in the posterior hypothalamus is considered as the wakefulness
center. Stimulation of mamillary body causes wakefulness and its lesion leads to
sleep. Stimulation of anterior hypothalamus also leads to sleep.

12.Role In Behavior And Emotional Changes

The behavior of animals and human beings is mostly affected by two responding
systems in hypothalamus and other structures of limbic system. These two systems
act opposite to one another. The responding systems are concerned with the
affective nature of sensations, i.e. whether the sensations are pleasant or painful.
These two qualities are called the reward (satisfaction) and punishment (aversion or
avoidance). Hypothalamus has two centers for behavioral and emotional changes.
They are:
i. Reward center
ii. Punishment center.

13.Regulation Of Sexual Function

In animals, hypothalamus plays an important role in maintaining the sexual
functions, especially in females. A decorticate female animal will have regular
estrous cycle, provided the hypothalamus is intact. In human beings also,
hypothalamus regulates the sexual functions by secreting gonadotropin-releasing
 hormones. Arcuate and posterior hypothalamic nuclei are involved in the regulation
of sexual functions.

14.Role In Response To Smell

Posterior hypothalamus along with other structures like hippocampus and
brainstem nuclei are responsible for the autonomic responses of body to olfactory
stimuli. The responses include feeding activities and emotional responses like fear,
excitement and pleasure.

15.Role In Circadian Rhythm

Circadian rhythm is the regular recurrence of physiological processes or activities,
which occur in cycles of 24 hours. It is also called diurnal rhythm. The term circadian
is a Latin word, meaning ‘around the day’. Circadian rhythm develops in response to
recurring daylight and darkness.
The cyclic changes taking place in various physiological processes are set by means
of a hypothetical internal clock that is often called biological clock.
Suprachiasmatic nucleus of hypothalamus plays an important role in setting the
biological clock by its connection with retina via retinohypothalamic fibers.
Through the efferent fibers, it sends circadian signals to different parts and
maintains the circadian rhythm of sleep, hormonal secretion, thirst, hunger,
appetite, etc.
Whenever body is exposed to a new pattern of daylight or darkness rhythm, the
biological clock is reset, provided the new pattern is regular. Accordingly, the
circadian rhythm also changes.