[Functional exploration of brown adipose tissue using beta3 agonists]

In view to utilize beta 3 adrenoceptor agonists for the investigation of body lipid metabolism, a study of the effects of BRL 37344 on the functional activity of the brown adipose tissue was performed in the Rat. It is known that this tissue is the principal site of heat production for nonshivering thermogenesis mainly due to the oxidation of fatty acids under the control of norepinephrine (NA) released from the sympathetic nervous system. In order to stimulate the activity of the tissue, rats were reared at 16 degrees C. When they were one month old, they were divided in two groups; one group received a surgical sympathectomy of the interscapular brown adipose tissue (TABI) (S group); the other group was sham-operated (T group). The resting metabolism was estimated by the continuous measurement of O2 consumption and CO2 release, at an ambient temperature of 25 degrees C. The animal capacity for nonshivering thermogenesis was determined by increased O2 consumption following i.p. administration of NA or BRL 37344. In the S group a large decrease in TABI NA content and a decrease in resting metabolism were observed. In both groups VO2 was increased by the two drugs; the increase was linearly related to the dose of BRL (between 2.5 to 10 micrograms/kg); but it was 3 times as high in the T group as in the S group. Moreover, the effect of BRL was 40 fold greater than the effect of NA. These results seem to indicate that, in cold reared rats, a part of nonshivering thermogenesis may be mediated by the beta 3 receptors of the brown fat. It may be concluded that the rats born in cold conditions are good models to study the role of beta 3 receptors in the energetic activity of this tissue very profuse in infant but not in adult man.