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Cold exposure increases glucose utilization and glucose transporter expression in brown adipose tissue
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|June 30, 1992
Summary
Cold exposure increases glucose utilization in brown adipose tissue (BAT) by enhancing GLUT4 glucose transporter expression. Skeletal muscle showed no significant changes, indicating BAT
Area of Science:
- Physiology
- Metabolism
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is crucial for non-shivering thermogenesis.
- Glucose uptake is a key metabolic process influenced by environmental factors.
- GLUT4 is a primary glucose transporter in insulin-sensitive tissues.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of cold exposure on glucose utilization in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and skeletal muscle.
- To determine the role of GLUT4 expression in cold-induced metabolic changes.
Main Methods:
- Rats were exposed to a cold environment (4°C) for 10 days.
- Tissue glucose utilization was measured.
- Levels of GLUT4 and its mRNA were assessed in BAT and skeletal muscle.
Main Results:
- Cold exposure significantly increased glucose utilization in BAT, but not in skeletal muscle.
- BAT exhibited increased levels of GLUT4 and GLUT4 mRNA following cold exposure.
- Skeletal muscle showed no significant alterations in glucose utilization or GLUT4 expression.
Conclusions:
- Cold-induced thermogenesis in BAT is associated with enhanced glucose uptake.
- Increased expression of GLUT4 and its mRNA in BAT contributes to elevated glucose utilization during cold exposure.
- Skeletal muscle's role in cold-induced glucose metabolism differs from that of BAT.