Role of brown and beige adipose tissues in seasonal adaptation in the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)

Laura Niiranen, Kari A. Mäkelä, Shivaprakash J. Mutt, Riikka Viitanen, Anna Kaisanlahti, David Vicente, Tommi Noponen, Anu Autio, Anne Roivainen, Pirjo Nuutila, Seppo Saarela, Karl Heinz Herzig

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) expresses uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1), which enables energy to be exerted towards needed thermogenesis. Beige adipocytes are precursor cells interspersed among white adipose tissue (WAT) that possess similar UCP1 activity and capacity for thermogenesis. The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) is a canid species that utilizes seasonal obesity to survive periods of food shortage in climate zones with cold winters. The potential to recruit a part of the abundant WAT storages as beige adipocytes for UCP1-dependent thermogenesis was investigated in vitro by treating raccoon dog adipocytes with different browning inducing factors. In vivo positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging with the glucose analog18F-FDG showed that BAT was not detected in the adult raccoon dog during the winter season. In addition, UCP1 expression was not changed in response to chronic treatments with browning inducing factors in adipocyte cultures. Our results demonstrated that most likely the raccoon dog endures cold weather without the induction of BAT or recruitment of beige adipocytes for heat production. Its thick fur coat, insulating fat, and muscle shivering seem to provide the adequate heat needed for surviving the winter.

Original languageEnglish
Article number9623
JournalInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences
Volume22
Issue number17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Beige/brite adipocytes
  • Brown adipose tissue
  • Browning
  • Seasonal adaptation
  • Seasonal obesity
  • Thermoregulation
  • UCP1
  • Winter sleep/hibernation

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Role of brown and beige adipose tissues in seasonal adaptation in the raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides)'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this