Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2012) 29 S41.1

ICEECE2012 Symposia The endocrinology of adipose tissue (3 abstracts)

Physiological and neuronal determinants of brown adipose tissue-mediated thermogenesis in small mammals and humans

D. Richard


Quebec Heart and Lung Institute, Quebec, Quebec, Canada.


Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a thermogenic organ. Its tremendous thermogenic potential is conferred by uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), which dissociates ATP synthesis from energy substrate oxidation and thereby insures heat production. BAT represents a key thermogenic effector implicated in thermoregulatory thermogenesis. The physiological control of BAT activity and capacity is ensured by the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), which densely innervates brown adipocytes. SNS-mediated BAT thermogenesis is essentially governed by hypothalamic and brainstem neurons. BAT is not only controlled by brain thermoregulatory circuits but also by brain energy balance pathways including the brain melanocortin pathway, whose major role in energy balance tends to support a genuine involvement of SNS-mediated BAT thermogenesis in energy homeostasis. BAT could be involved as a thermogenic effector not only in small mammals but also in humans. The use of molecular imaging procedures such as positron emission tomography / computed tomography (PET/CT) scanning have revealed noticeable BAT depots in the cervical, clavicular, paraspinal areas in adult humans. Moreover, there is recent evidence pointing to the presence of brown adipocytes in the human epicardial adipose tissue. The detection/prevalence of these depots was reported to increase with exposure to low temperature, to be higher in women than in men, and to decrease with age and body fat mass. The purpose of this short article is to provide an overview of the recent advances made in our understanding of the physiological and neuronal determinants of BAT thermogenesis in laboratory rodents and adult humans.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This research did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sector.

Volume 29

15th International & 14th European Congress of Endocrinology

European Society of Endocrinology 

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