| pubmed-article:2390738 | pubmed:abstractText | In euthyroid mice, a 48-h fast caused brown fat (BAT) atrophy characterized by loss of tissue proteins, succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and a significant reduction in mitochondrial uncoupling protein (UCP) content. Chemical sympathectomy and surgical denervation failed to mimic the changes in BAT protein and SDH contents observed after food deprivation. However, suppression of sympathetic activity could account for the loss of UCP from the mitochondria. In mice made hyperthyroid by repeated triiodothyronine injections, losses of tissue SDH and proteins caused by food deprivation or surgical denervation were markedly suppressed, while the loss of UCP from the mitochondria remained unchanged. These results suggest that reduced sympathetic activity to BAT in fasted mice is not the exclusive cause of the tissue atrophy and that thyroid hormones may play a role in the control of brown fat atrophy in mice. | lld:pubmed |
