CART Peptides Differently Regulate Firing Rates and GABAergic Synaptic Inputs of DMV Neurons Innervating the Stomach Antrum and Cecum of Adult Male Rats

Central administration of cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript peptides (CARTp) alters gastrointestinal motility and reduces food intake in rats. Since neurons in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMV) receive GABAergic and glutamatergic inputs and innervate the smooth muscle of gastrointestinal organs, we hypothesized that CARTp acts on the DMV or presynaptic neurons.We used 3,3'-dioctadecyloxa-carbocyanine perchlorate (DiO)...