Meal-induced brown fat thermogenesis and thyroid hormone metabolism in rats

The relationship between the meal-induced increase in brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis, determined by the level of GDP binding to BAT mitochondria, and thyroid hormone metabolism have been examined. A single low-protein, high-carbohydrate meal resulted in a significant increase in the thermogenic activity of BAT. This effect on BAT thermogenesis was accompanied by significant increases in activity of thyroxine 5'-monodeiodinase in the BAT (P less than 0.05) and liver (P less than 0.02) but not with any significant changes in serum concentrations of the thyroid hormones. The stimulatory effects of the meal on BAT thermogenesis and hepatic thyroxine (T4) to triiodothyronine (T3) conversion persisted at least as late as 24 h after meal onset. Food deprivation for 40 h was associated with large reductions in serum concentrations of T3 (P less than 0.01) and T4 (P less than 0.001), but deprivation for 18 h had no significant effect on serum T3 and T4 concentrations. Our data indicate that the meal-induced increase in BAT thermogenesis can be independent from changes in serum concentrations of thyroid hormones and suggest that T3 produced in BAT in response to feeding may play a role in the thermic response of this tissue to meals.