Castration induced browning in subcutaneous white adipose tissue in male mice

We demonstrated that castration enhanced the expression of uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1), a thermogenic protein, in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and subcutaneous (sc) white adipose tissue (WAT) in male mice. Castration of male mice increased body temperature and reduced body weight gain compared with those of sham-operated mice. BAT Ucp1 mRNA expression in castrated male mice was significantly higher than that in sham-operated mice. Histologically, cells with multilocular fat droplets were observed in the castrated inguinal scWAT. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that these cells positively reacted with the anti-Ucp1 antibody. The Ucp1-positive area near the inguinal lymph node in the castrated WAT was extensive compared with that of the sham-operated WAT. Castration-induced Ucp1 up-regulation in scWAT was suppressed by high-fat diet feeding. These findings suggest that thermogenesis by BAT activation and scWAT browning contribute to castration-induced inhibition of body weight gain. However, considering that the effect of castration was blunted by high-fat diet consumption, thermogenesis stimulation in response to castration is inhibited by chronic over-nutrition.