Satiety factor closely associated with the actions of leptin and neuropeptide y; this anorectic peptide inhibits both normal and starvation-induced feeding and completely blocks the feeding response induced by neuropeptide Y and regulated by leptin in the hypothalamus. Neuroendocrine tissues. Predominantly expressed in the hypothalamus, pituitary, and longitudinal muscle-myenteric plexus. Abundant expression is also seen in the midbrain/thalamus and eye. A lower level expression is seen in the other brain regions and adrenal. By cocaine and amphetamine. Belongs to the CART family.