White adipose tissue sympathetic nervous system denervation increases fat pad mass and fat cell number

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) drive on white adipose tissue (WAT) was varied to test its effects on fat cell number (FCN) under conditions in which lipolysis would be minimized and therefore partially separable from SNS trophic effects. The inguinal subcutaneous WAT (IWAT) pad of Siberian hamsters was chosen because 1) it is innervated by the SNS, 2) short day (SD) exposure increases its SNS drive (approximately 250%) without proportionately increasing lipolysis, and 3) surgical denervation eliminates its SNS innervation. IWAT was either unilaterally surgically or sham denervated, while the contralateral pad was left intact. In long day- or SD-exposed hamsters (11 wk), IWAT denervation decreased norepinephrine content (approximately 80%) and increased fat pad mass (approximately 200%) and FCN (approximately 250 and approximately 180%, respectively) compared with the contralateral intact pads, but did not affect fat cell size (FCS). The denervation-induced increased FCN in SDs occurred despite naturally occurring decreased food intake. SDs decreased IWAT FCS regardless of the surgical treatment. These results support an important role of WAT SNS innervation in the control of FCN in vivo.