Summary
In Djungarian hamsters the cold-induced thermoregulatory heat production was preceeded and accompanied by an increase in the plasma level of free fatty acids. In warm-acclimated hamsters this increase was found more pronounced (0.85 to 1.48 mM) than in cold-acclimated hamsters (0.64 to 0.88 mM). Noradrenaline-induced thermogenesis at thermoneutrality provoked a similar increase in the free fatty acid level. Inhibition of nonshivering thermogenesis during cold exposure by propranolol abolished the increase in free fatty acids completely. The surgical removal of brown adipose tissue proportionately reduced the increase in free fatty acids. This indicates that the rise in plasma free fatty acids is functionally related to nonshivering thermogenesis and originates from brown adipose tissue.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ambid L, Berlan M, Agid R (1971) Contribution de la graisse brune à la mobilisation des lipides au cours des réveils périodiques chez un hibernant, le Lérot (Eliomys quercinus L.). J Physiol (Paris) 63:505–522
Bieber LL, Peterson B, Lindberg O (1975) Studies of norepinephrine-induced efflux of free fatty acid from hamster brown adipose tissue cells. Eur J Biochem 58:375–381
Böckler H, Heldmaier G (1983) Interaction of shivering and non-shivering thermogenesis during cold exposure in seasonally-acclimatized Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus). J Therm Biol 8:97–98
Böckler H, Steinlechner S, Heldmaier G (1982) Complete cold substitution of noradrenaline-induced thermogenesis in the Djungarian hamster,Phodopus sungorus. Experientia 38:261–262
Bukowiecki LJ, Folléa N, Lupien J, Paradis A (1981) Metabolic relationships between lipolysis and respiration in rat brown adipocytes. J Biol Chem 256:12840–12848
Cannon B, Nedergaard J, Romert L, Sundin U, Svartengren J (1978) The biochemical mechanism of thermogenesis in brown adipose tissue. In: Wang LCH, Hudson JW (eds) Strategies in the cold. Academic Press, New York, San Francisco, London, pp 567–593
Fain JN, Reed N, Saperstein R (1967) The isolation and metabolism of brown fat cells. J Biol Chem 242:1887–1894
Fain JN, Reed N (1970) A mechanism for hormonal activity of lipolysis and respiration in free brown fat cells. Lipids 5:210–219
Hardmann MJ, Hull D (1970) Fat metabolism in brown adipose tissue in vivo. J Physiol 206:263–273
Heldmaier G (1969) Die Thermogenese der Mausohrfledermaus (Myotis myotis Borkh.) beim Erwachen aus dem Winterschlaf. Z Vergl Physiol 63:59–84
Heldmaier G (1971) Zitterfreie Wärmebildung und Körpergröße bei Säugetieren. Z Vergl Physiol 73:222–248
Heldmaier G, Steinlechner S, Rafael J (1982a) Nonshivering thermogenesis and cold resistance during seasonal acclimatization in the Djungarian hamster. J Comp Physiol 149:1–9
Heldmaier G, Steinlechner S, Rafael J, Latteier B (1982b) Photoperiod and ambient temperature as environmental cues for seasonal thermogenic adaptation in the Djungarian hamster,Phodopus sungorus. Int J Biometeor 26:339–345
Heldmaier G, Buchberger A (1985) Sources of heat during nonshivering thermogenesis in Djungarian hamsters: a dominant role of brown adipose tissue during cold adaptation. J Comp Physiol B (in press)
Hron WT, Menahan LA (1981) A sensitive method for the determination of free fatty acids in plasma. J Lipid Res 22:377–381
Kumon A, Hara T, Takahashi A (1976) Effects of catecholamines on the lipolysis of two kinds of fat cells from adult rabbit. J Lipid Res 17:559–564
LaFrance L, Lagacé G, Routhier D (1980) Free fatty acid turnover and oxygen consumption. Effects of noradrenaline in nonfasted and nonanesthetized cold-adapted rats. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 58:797–804
Moriya K, Maekubo H, Itoh S (1974) Turnover rate of plasma free fatty acids in cold acclimated rats. Jpn J Physiol 24:419–431
Nedergaard J, Lindberg O (1979) Norepinephrine-stimulated fatty-acid release and oxygen consumption in isolated hamster brown-fat cells. Eur J Biochem 95:139–145
Nedergaard J, Lindberg O (1982) The brown fat cell. Int Rev Cytol 74:187–286
Poret R, Laury MC, Bertin R, Senault C, Hluszko MT, Chevillard L (1974) Hormonal stimulation of substrate utilization in brown adipose tissue of cold acclimated rats. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 147:807–812
Schenk H, Heim T, Mende T, Varga F, Goetze E (1975) Studies on plasma free-fatty-acid metabolism and triglyceride synthesis of brown adipose tissue in vivo during cold-induced thermogenesis of the newborn rabbit. Eur J Biochem 38:15–22
Seidl K (1982) Die Rolle der freien Fettsäuren bei der zitterfreien Thermogenese des Dsungarischen Zwerghamsters Phodopus sungorus (PALLAS). Diplomarbeit, Universität Frankfurt
Smith RE, Horwitz BA (1969) Brown fat and thermogenesis. Physiol Rev 49:330–425
Trayhurn P (1979) Fatty acid synthesis in vivo in brown adipose tissue, liver and white adipose of the cold-acclimated rat. FEBS Lett 104:13–16
Trayhurn P (1981) Fatty acid synthesis in mouse brown adipose tissue. The influence of environmental temperature on the proportion of whole-body fatty acid synthesis in brown adipose tissue and the liver. Biochim Biophys Acta 664:549–560
Uchida Y (1979) Effects of chloropromazine on lipolysis in brown and white adipose tissues of cold-exposed rats. Japan J Pharmacol 29:587–596
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Heldmaier, G., Seidl, K. Plasma free fatty acid levels during cold-induced and noradrenaline-induced nonshivering thermogenesis in the Djungarian hamster. J Comp Physiol B 155, 679–684 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694581
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00694581