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The Role of Adrenergic Stimulation in Regulation of Heat Production and Recruitment of Brown Adipose Tissue

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Thermal Balance in Health and Disease

Part of the book series: APS Advances in Pharmacological Sciences ((APS))

Abstract

Despite the fact that it is only 30 years since thermogenesis was suggested to be the function of brown adipose tissue, the role of brown adipose tissue as a unique thermogenic organ in mammals is now well established. Kurt Brück (1) early realised its significance for thermoregulation of the newborn of all mammalian species, including the human infant, and it is therefore very appropriate to present an overview of present knowledge on brown adipose tissue in this symposium, dedicated to his memory. The role of the sympathetic nervous system as the means of activation of the acute heat production in brown adipose tissue has long been realised, but as the result of continuous study of the tissue, it has been understood that the sympathetic nervous system, through norepinephrine release, also plays a dominating role for the development of the tissue in response to e.g. prolonged cold exposure — i.e. for the so-called recruitment process. Certain circulating hormones, and some growth factors, may also influence tissue metabolism and development, but the role of these agents may mainly be seen as permissive, i.e. their presence may be necessary for the recruitment process but they do not in themselves constitute a sufficient signal for tissue recruitment; rather, the chronic adrenergic stimulation seems to have this role. It is therefore clear that an understanding of the responses of the tissue to adrenergic stimulation is the predominant prerequisite for an understanding both of the acute functioning of the tissue and of its recruitment in response to physiological stimuli. We will therefore in the following concentrate on the adrenergic receptors in the tissue and on their effects, both on the acute thermogenic response and on cell proliferation and differentiation during the recruitment process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Wenner-Gren Institute, The Arrhenius Laboratories F3, Stockholm University, S-106 91, Stockholm, Sweden

    B. Cannon, T. Bengtsson, A. Dicker, A. Jacobsson, P. Kuusela, H. Thonberg, P. Tvrdik, J. Zhao & J. Nedergaard

Authors
  1. B. Cannon
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  2. T. Bengtsson
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  3. A. Dicker
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  4. A. Jacobsson
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  5. P. Kuusela
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  6. H. Thonberg
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  7. P. Tvrdik
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  8. J. Zhao
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  9. J. Nedergaard
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Physiologisches Institut, Klinikum der Justus Liebig Universität, Aulweg 129, D-35392, Giessen, Germany

    Eugen Zeisberger

  2. Department of Medical Pharmacology, Leiden Amsterdam Centre for Drug Research, State University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Eduard Schönbaum

  3. Peelkensweg 4, 5428 NM, Venhorst, N.BR., The Netherlands

    Eduard Schönbaum

  4. Department of Pharmacology, UCLA School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90024-1735, USA

    Peter Lomax

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© 1994 Birkhäuser Verlag Basel

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Cannon, B. et al. (1994). The Role of Adrenergic Stimulation in Regulation of Heat Production and Recruitment of Brown Adipose Tissue. In: Zeisberger, E., Schönbaum, E., Lomax, P. (eds) Thermal Balance in Health and Disease. APS Advances in Pharmacological Sciences. Birkhäuser Basel. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7429-8_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-0348-7429-8_12

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser Basel

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-0348-7431-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-0348-7429-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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