Thyroid hormone status defines brown adipose tissue activity and browning of white adipose tissues in mice

Sci Rep. 2016 Dec 12:6:38124. doi: 10.1038/srep38124.

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine the effect of thyroid hormone dysfunction on brown adipose tissue activity and white adipose tissue browning in mice. Twenty randomized female C57BL/6NTac mice per treatment group housed at room temperature were rendered hypothyroid or hyperthyroid. In-vivo small animal 18F-FDG PET/MRI was performed to determine the effects of hypo- and hyperthyroidism on BAT mass and BAT activity. Ex-vivo14C-acetate loading assay and assessment of thermogenic gene and protein expression permitted analysis of oxidative and thermogenic capacities of WAT and BAT of eu-, hyper and hypothyroid mice. 18F-FDG PET/MRI revealed a lack of brown adipose tissue activity in hypothyroid mice, whereas hyperthyroid mice displayed increased BAT mass alongside enhanced 18F-FDG uptake. In white adipose tissue of both, hyper- and hypothyroid mice, we found a significant induction of thermogenic genes together with multilocular adipocytes expressing UCP1. Taken together, these results suggest that both the hyperthyroid and hypothyroid state stimulate WAT thermogenesis most likely as a consequence of enhanced adrenergic signaling or compensation for impaired BAT function, respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipocytes
  • Adipose Tissue, Brown / metabolism*
  • Adipose Tissue, White / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / metabolism
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Hyperthyroidism / chemically induced
  • Hyperthyroidism / diagnostic imaging*
  • Hyperthyroidism / metabolism
  • Hypothyroidism / chemically induced
  • Hypothyroidism / diagnostic imaging*
  • Hypothyroidism / metabolism
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Propylthiouracil / adverse effects
  • Random Allocation
  • Signal Transduction
  • Thermogenesis
  • Thyroxine / adverse effects

Substances

  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Propylthiouracil
  • Thyroxine