CART peptides in the central control of feeding and interactions with neuropeptide Y.

While CART peptides have been implicated as novel, putative peptide neurotransmitters/cotransmitters, behavioral effects of these peptides have not yet been demonstrated. In this study, we show the first behavioral effect of CART peptides. I.c.v. administration of CART peptide fragments inhibits feeding in rats. Moreover, injection of an antibody to CART peptide 82-103 stimulates feeding, suggesting that endogenous CART peptides exert an inhibitory tone on feeding. Injection of CART peptide 82-103 five min before NPY reduces the increase in feeding caused by injection of NPY alone. Also, in light microscopic immunohistochemical studies, NPY-positive varicosities were observed around CART peptide-positive cell bodies in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. These data suggest functional interactions between CART peptides and NPY. These results indicate that CART peptides play a role in the control of food intake by the brain.