Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Fatty Acid Composition of Triglycerides from Adipose Tissue

  • Letter
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

Abstract

BROWN adipose tissue has recently been shown to be the major site of non-shivering heat production in newborn rabbits1 and to participate in heat production in the human new-born infant in a cool environment2. The major lipid in brown adipose tissue is triglyceride, which is present in numerous small droplets throughout the cytoplasm, and heat is produced by the local oxidation of this triglyceride after lipolysis1. White adipose tissue contains only a single large fat droplet, is almost entirely triglyceride1 and its main function is the synthesis and storage of triglycerides and the release of free fatty acids into the blood stream when required. In view of these differences in function we have compared the fatty acid composition of triglycerides from brown and white adipose tissue in new-born and adult rabbits and in samples of brown and white adipose tissue obtained at autopsy in human new-born infants. The fatty acid composition of adipose tissue triglycerides is not significantly different in biopsy and autopsy samples3.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Dawkins, M. J. R., and Hull, D., J. Physiol., 169, 101 P (1963); ibid., 172, 216 (1964).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Dawkins, M. J. R., and Scopes, J. W., Nature, 206, 201 (1965).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Heffernan, A. G., Clin. Sci., 25, 423 (1963).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Folch, J., Lees, M., and Sloane-Stanely, G. H., Fed. Proc., 13, 209 (1954).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Stoffel, W., Chu, F., and Ahrens, E. H., Anal. Chem., 31, 307 (1959).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Chalvardjian, A. M., Biochem. J., 90, 518 (1964).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Wells, H. J., Makita, M., Wells, W. W., and Krutzch, P. H., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 98, 269 (1965).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Hirsch, J., Farquhar, J. W., Ahrens, E. H., Peterson, M. L., and Stoffel, W., Amer. J. Clin. Nutr., 8, 499 (1960).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Gellhorn, A., and Marks, P. A., J. Clin. Invest., 40, 925 (1961).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Krut, L. H., and Broute-Stewart, B., J. Lipid Res., 5, 343 (1964).

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuffield Neonatal Research Unit, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W.12

    M. J. R. DAWKINS & J. F. STEVENS

Authors
  1. M. J. R. DAWKINS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. F. STEVENS
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

DAWKINS, M., STEVENS, J. Fatty Acid Composition of Triglycerides from Adipose Tissue. Nature 209, 1145–1146 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1038/2091145a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/2091145a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

Search

Navigation