Proliferation and differentiation of brown adipocytes from interstitial cells during cold acclimation

Journal Article · Sun Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1986 · Am. J. Physiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6831668

Bukowiecki, L J; Geloeen, A; Collet, A J

The mechanisms of brown adipocyte proliferation and differentiation during cold acclimation (and/or adaptation to hyperphagia) have been studied by quantitative photonic radioautography. (/sup 3/H)thymidine was injected to warm-acclimated (25/sup 0/C) rats and to animals exposed to 5/sup 0/C for 2 days. Samples of interscapular brown adipose tissue were collected for quantitative analysis of mitotic frequencies at various periods of time (4 h-15 days) after the injection of (/sup 3/H)thymidine, the rats being maintained at the temperatures to which they were initially exposed. It was found that cold exposure for 2 days markedly enhanced mitotic activity in endothelial cells, interstitial cells, and brown preadipocytes rather than in fully differentiated brown adipocytes. The total tissue labeling index (percent of labeled nuclei) increased approx.70 times over control values. The authors now report that cellular labeling progressively increased in mature brown adipocytes during cold acclimation, whereas it correspondingly decreased in interstitial cells and brown preadipocytes. This indicates that the sequence of events for cellular differentiation is interstitial cells ..-->.. brown preadipocytes ..-->.. mature brown adipocytes. Remarkable, labeling frequency did not change in endothelial cells during cold acclimation demonstrating that these cells cannot be considered as progenitors of brown adipocytes. It is suggested that brown adipocyte proliferation and differentiation from interstitial cells represent the fundamental phenomena explaining the enhanced capacity of cold-acclimated and/or hyperphagic rats to respond calorigenically to catecholamines.

• Research Organization: Laval Univ., Quebec
• OSTI ID: 6831668
• Journal Information: Am. J. Physiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. J. Physiol.; (United States) Vol. 250:6; ISSN AJPHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550301* -- Cytology-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ADIPOSE TISSUE
AMINES
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
AZINES
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
BODY
CATECHOLAMINES
CELL DIFFERENTIATION
CELL DIVISION
CELL PROLIFERATION
CONNECTIVE TISSUE
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
FAT CELLS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
MITOSIS
NUCLEOSIDES
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHENOLS
POLYPHENOLS
PYRIMIDINES
RATS
RIBOSIDES
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
TEMPERATURE EFFECTS
THYMIDINE
TISSUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES