The arcuate nucleus is a crescent of neurons at the base of the third ventricle near the median eminence. It is a key appetite centre that senses hormones such as leptin, insulin and ghrelin from the blood. It also controls anterior pituitary hormones, including dopamine that inhibits prolactin and GnRH-related signalling for reproduction.
| Location | Tuberal hypothalamus, in the floor of the third ventricle just above the median eminence |
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| Connections |
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| Blood Supply | Superior hypophyseal arteries; Perforating branches of the posterior communicating artery |
Integrates blood-borne signals of energy status to regulate hunger and energy use, inhibits prolactin release through dopamine and helps control reproductive hormones.
Mutations in the leptin-melanocortin pathway of the arcuate nucleus (for example MC4R mutations) are the most common single-gene causes of severe obesity. Drugs that block dopamine, such as many antipsychotics, remove arcuate inhibition of prolactin and cause hyperprolactinaemia. Kisspeptin neurons here are central to the timing of puberty.
Severe early-onset obesity from genetic defects in the leptin or melanocortin signalling pathway centred on the arcuate nucleus.
Raised prolactin from dopamine-blocking medicines interfering with the tuberoinfundibular pathway, causing galactorrhoea and menstrual disturbance.
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