Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptides: Neuroanatomical distribution and functional implications in the mammalian central nervous system.

The cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) peptide is widely expressed throughout the mammalian central nervous system. CART was first identified during sequencing of a hypothalamic peptide whose biological function was unknown at the time. Subsequent studies used immunohistochemistry to detect CART peptides and in situ hybridization to localize the corresponding messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) in several species, including rats, mice, non-human primates, and humans. Additional investigations have examined the neurotransmitters that are co-localized with CART peptides. Accumulated evidence indicates that CART peptides participate in diverse physiological processes, including addiction, reward, pain modulation, memory, sleep, hormonal regulation and the energy homeostasis. A clearer understanding of the widespread distribution of CART peptides is therefore essential for elucidating their functional roles. Accordingly, this review summarizes recent findings on the distribution of CART peptides in the aim of this review is to summarize recent findings regarding the distribution of CART peptides within the central nervous system of rodents, non-human primates, and humans, with particular emphasis on interspecies differences as abasis for identifying future research priorities. Accordingly, this review summarizes recent findings on the distribution of CART peptides within the central nervous system of rodents, non-human primates, and humans, with particular emphasis on interspecies differences as a basis for identifying future research priorities.