Cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript: a possible regulator of the stress response

Abstract Introduction Cocaineand amphetamine-regulated transcript peptides have been implicated in the endocrine and autonomic regulation, food intake and anxiety. Anatomical studies demonstrate that cocaineand amphetamine-regulated transcript mRNA and peptides are expressed intensely in the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal gland axis and sympatho-adrenal system. In parallel with the anatomical studies, functional studies show that cocaineand amphetamine-regulated transcript peptides increase the activity of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and sympatho-adrenal system. Also, various stress procedures regulate cocaineand amphetamine-regulated transcript peptide and mRNA expression in the frontal cortex, amygdala, hypothalamus and adrenal gland. Based on these data, this review discusses the possible role of cocaineand amphetamine-regulated transcript peptides in the regulation of the stress response. Conclusion There is substantial literature which shows that cocaineand amphetamineregulated transcript has significant effects on the hypothalamo-pituitaryadrenal axis and sympatho-adrenal system activity. Although increasing number of studies report that cocaineand amphetamine-regulated transcript expression is regulated by the stress response, the exact role of cocaineand amphetamine-regulated transcript during the stress response appears to be complex and remains unclear.