Effects of cold acclimation on adipose tissue lipolysis and cellularity in the hypophysectomized rat

The study investigated the effects of hypophysectomy and cold acclimation on cellularity and lipolytic capacity of adipose tissue. Hypophysectomized rats (H) were compared to age matched or weight matched controls. Rats were exposed to either 28 degrees C or 15 degrees C ambient temperature for five weeks. In H, despite the inhibition of body growth, it was observed that the growth of epididymal adipose tissue is not entirely inhibited. In comparison with weight matched controls, increase in tissue weight is found to be due to an adipocyte hypertrophy without changes in cell number. No effect of cold acclimation on adipose tissue weight, cellularity and insulinemia were observed in the H group. The in vitro lipolysis effect of norepinephrine was suppressed in 28 degrees C H; a partial recovery of this effect was observed after cold acclimation. This fact is not dependent on adipocyte size, but possibly on structural or metabolic modifications.