Brown adipose tissue regulates glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is known to function in the dissipation of chemical energy in response to cold or excess feeding, and also has the capacity to modulate energy balance. To test the hypothesis that BAT is fundamental to the regulation of glucose homeostasis, we transplanted BAT from male donor mice into the visceral cavity of age- and sex-matched recipient mice. By 8-12 weeks following transplantation, recipient mice had improved glucose tolerance, increased insulin sensitivity, lower body weight, decreased fat mass, and a complete reversal of high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance. Increasing the quantity of BAT transplanted into recipient mice further improved the metabolic effects of…

• AD
  American Diabetes Association
• JD
  Joslin Diabetes Center

  Award: 5P30 DK36836
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: AR45670, F32-DK091048, DK36836, 5P30 DK36836