Hormone that plays a central role in whole body adaptation to stress (PubMed:11329063, PubMed:11416224). Released by the hypothalamus primarily in response to physical or psychological stress and acts by binding to CRH receptor CRHR2 (PubMed:11329063, PubMed:11416224, PubMed:20966082, PubMed:26350463). UCN3-dependent signaling plays a key role in the metabolic regulation and energy homeostasis in responses to stress, acting as an anxiolytic (PubMed:11329063, PubMed:11416224). Promotes energy balance by reducing food intake, improving insulin sensitivity and managing blood glucose levels in response to metabolic stress (By similarity). In contrast to CRH and UCN, does not activate the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis to promote corticotropin hormone (ACTH) production (PubMed:11329063). {ECO:0000250|UniProtKB:Q924A4, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11329063, ECO:0000269|PubMed:11416224, ECO:0000269|PubMed:20966082, ECO:0000269|PubMed:26350463}. This is the function of Ensembl gene identifier ENSG00000178473 (UCN3, urocortin 3).