Effect of CART in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus on feeding and uncoupling protein gene expression

Cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) decreases feeding and b ody weight after ventricular injection. CART mRNA and peptide are found in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN). The purpose of the p resent study was to determine effects of PVN-injected CART on feeding and t hermogenic capacity. PVN-injected CART (55-102, 100 pmol) significantly dec reased NPY-induced feeding at 1, 2 and 4 h, but did not significantly affec t deprivation-induced feeding. CART induced gene expression of uncoupling p rotein 1 (UCP1), UCP2, and UCP3 in brown and white adipose tissue and bicep s femoris muscle respectively. These results indicate the PVN as a specific site of CART action, and suggest that CART in the PVN may have an importan t influence on energy metabolism. NeuroReport 11:3251-3255 (C) 2000 Lippinc ott Williams & Wilkins.