[The role of anorectic and orexigenic peptides(CART, NPY etc)]

Leptin inhibits food intake and increase energy expenditure via an interaction with specific leptin receptors located in the hypothalamus. Leptin receptors have been identified in cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript(CART), neuropeptide Y(NPY), galanin-containing neurons of the arcuate nucleus, respectively, and in corticotropin-releasing hormone(CRH)-containing neurons of the paraventricular nucleus, suggesting that these peptides are mediators of leptin's action in the hypothalamus. Anabolic pathways such as those including NPY and galanin promote feeding and are inhibited by leptin, whereas catabolic pathways which include CART and CRH have the opposite effect and are stimulated by leptin. In the current review we examine the significant role of the CART, CRH, NPY and galanin in the regulation of energy balance.