Effect of noradrenaline chronic administration on brown fat phospholipids

Chronic cold exposure of rats (9 days at 5 degrees C) induces an alteration of the fatty acid composition of phospholipids in brown adipose tissue. The alteration is due to an increase of the unsaturation degree of these lipids. The phenomenon can be reproduced by 10(-7) mole. h-1 administration of noradrenaline for 9 days in rats kept at 25 degrees C. Thus, phospholipid alteration in brown fat of cold exposed rats is most probably a consequence of the increase of sympathetic tone which occurs in this tissue during exposure to cold.