Comparison of Brown Fat Metabolism in Cold-exposed Rats and Golden Hamsters

Abstract

LIPID metabolic pathways are important in cold acclimation of mammals and in mammalian hibernation, both during preparation for it and in the actual hibernating state. The brown fat depots found in all hibernating and some non-hibernating mammalian species have been extensively studied from what may be termed an analytical approach. The metabolism of these depots has also been investigated. The importance of brown fat to the hibernating mammal is generally accepted, but its actual role in the hibernating phenomenon is still problematical. Our recent investigations concern metabolic changes in brown fat during the process of cold acclimation in both a hibernating and a non-hibernating mammal. The tissue could participate in this process as a thermogenic organ. This has been suggested by Smith and Hoch¹ for one species of hibernating mammal.