6.The thermogenic activity of brown adipose tissue has been investigated at diff
ID: 13189 • Letter: 6
Question
6.The thermogenic activity of brown adipose tissue has been investigated at different phases of the seasonally linked hibernation cycle in Richardson's ground squirrel. The amount of auxillary brown adipose tissue and the total mitochondrial content of the tissue were substantially greater in hibernating squirrels than in squirrels caught post hibernation in April or May; cold acclimation induced qualitatively similar differences. The specific mitochondrial concentration of uncoupling protein was high under all conditions (compared with other species), differing little between hibernating, post hibernating, and cold-acclimated squirrels. What do you think this research suggests?Explanation / Answer
In Richardson's ground squirrels, the changes in the mitochondrial content of the tissue regulates the thermogenic capacity of brown adipose tissue . So, the swelling during the early stages of the hibernation is induced throught the binding of mitochondrial GDP and the GDP-sensitive components of acetate. These changes indicates that an activation of thermogenic proton conductance pathway in arousal that occurred without any alternation in the specific mitochondrial concentration of uncoupling protein. This suggests that the increased GDP binding during arousal is due to the unmasking or focussing of binding sites, reflecting an acute activation of preexisting uncoupling protein.
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