Effect of various adaptational temperatures on oxidative capacity of the brown adipose tissue
Pospísilová, D.; Janský, L.
Physiologia Bohemoslovaca 25(6): 519-527
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0369-9463 PMID: 191858 Document Number: 108025
For 3 to 8 weeks adult male rats were kept at 6 deg , 17 deg , 24 deg or 30 deg , white mice at 11 deg , 17 deg , 25 deg or 32 deg and golden hamsters at 6 deg , 11.5 deg , 18.5 deg , 25 deg , 30 deg or 35 deg . They were then killed and brown adipose tissue was studied. The weight and cytochrome oxidase activity of brown fat of mice changed little at different temperatures whereas in the rat a lower adaptation temperature increased total weight, protein content and cytochrome oxidase activity. Different temperatures induced variable effects in brown fat of hamsters. Mild cold caused accumulation of proteins and oxidative enzymes. Severe cold also induced growth so that the weight of the tissue rose proportionately to total bodyweight. The metabolic capacity of brown fat, estimated as total cytochrome oxidase activity, rose twice, 6- and 12-fold with decreasing temperature in the mouse, rat and hamster, respectively.