[Regulation of thermoregulatory thermogenesis]. 1995

A Kuroshima
First Department of Physiology, Asahikawa Medical College, Japan.

Two modes of heat production exist which are involved in body temperature regulation with decreasing environmental temperature: shivering thermogenesis and more efficient nonshivering thermogenesis (NST). Enhanced NST is mediated by the activated sympathetic nervous activity and increased secretions of hormonal factors such as glucagon through an enhanced lipid utilization. Moreover, cold acclimation causes an increased responsiveness of the organism to these factors. Noradrenaline-induced secretion of glucagon is also enhanced by cold acclimation. Chronic administration of glucagon simulates cold acclimation, resulting in an improved cold tolerance by an increased NST. Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a major site for nonshivering thermogenesis (NST) during metabolic cold acclimation. Cold acclimation causes a hyperplasia as well as an enhanced metabolic capacity of BAT cell. BAT function is mainly regulated by sympathetic noradrenaline and several hormonal factors such as glucagon. BAT possesses rich blood supply by which its high thermogenic capacity and an efficient transfer of heat are maintained. Noradrenaline and glucagon increases not only heat production, but also blood flow in BAT. Nitric oxide (NO), endothelium-derived relaxing factor, is involved in noradrenaline-, glucagon- and cold-induced increases of blood flow through BAT. Noradrenaline-induced BAT thermogenesis is suggested to be mediated by NO. NO synthase occurs in BAT cell in addition to endothelium of BAT vessel. These findings indicate that NO may be a signalling molecule for an enhanced NST during cold acclimation. Moreover, BAT contributes to adaptation to overfeeding, nonthermal stress and fever by means of producing heat, playing a role as adaptive organ in overall energy metabolism.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009569 Nitric Oxide A free radical gas produced endogenously by a variety of mammalian cells, synthesized from ARGININE by NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE. Nitric oxide is one of the ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT RELAXING FACTORS released by the vascular endothelium and mediates VASODILATION. It also inhibits platelet aggregation, induces disaggregation of aggregated platelets, and inhibits platelet adhesion to the vascular endothelium. Nitric oxide activates cytosolic GUANYLATE CYCLASE and thus elevates intracellular levels of CYCLIC GMP. Endogenous Nitrate Vasodilator,Mononitrogen Monoxide,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium-Derived,Nitrogen Monoxide,Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide,Monoxide, Mononitrogen,Monoxide, Nitrogen,Nitrate Vasodilator, Endogenous,Nitric Oxide, Endothelium Derived,Oxide, Nitric,Vasodilator, Endogenous Nitrate
D009638 Norepinephrine Precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the ADRENAL MEDULLA and is a widespread central and autonomic neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine is the principal transmitter of most postganglionic sympathetic fibers, and of the diffuse projection system in the brain that arises from the LOCUS CERULEUS. It is also found in plants and is used pharmacologically as a sympathomimetic. Levarterenol,Levonorepinephrine,Noradrenaline,Arterenol,Levonor,Levophed,Levophed Bitartrate,Noradrenaline Bitartrate,Noradrénaline tartrate renaudin,Norepinephrin d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine Bitartrate,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:2),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+,-)-Isomer
D001833 Body Temperature Regulation The processes of heating and cooling that an organism uses to control its temperature. Heat Loss,Thermoregulation,Regulation, Body Temperature,Temperature Regulation, Body,Body Temperature Regulations,Heat Losses,Loss, Heat,Losses, Heat,Regulations, Body Temperature,Temperature Regulations, Body,Thermoregulations
D003080 Cold Temperature An absence of warmth or heat or a temperature notably below an accustomed norm. Cold,Cold Temperatures,Temperature, Cold,Temperatures, Cold
D005934 Glucagon A 29-amino acid pancreatic peptide derived from proglucagon which is also the precursor of intestinal GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDES. Glucagon is secreted by PANCREATIC ALPHA CELLS and plays an important role in regulation of BLOOD GLUCOSE concentration, ketone metabolism, and several other biochemical and physiological processes. (From Gilman et al., Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th ed, p1511) Glucagon (1-29),Glukagon,HG-Factor,Hyperglycemic-Glycogenolytic Factor,Proglucagon (33-61),HG Factor,Hyperglycemic Glycogenolytic Factor
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000064 Acclimatization Adaptation to a new environment or to a change in the old. Acclimation
D000273 Adipose Tissue Specialized connective tissue composed of fat cells (ADIPOCYTES). It is the site of stored FATS, usually in the form of TRIGLYCERIDES. In mammals, there are two types of adipose tissue, the WHITE FAT and the BROWN FAT. Their relative distributions vary in different species with most adipose tissue being white. Fatty Tissue,Body Fat,Fat Pad,Fat Pads,Pad, Fat,Pads, Fat,Tissue, Adipose,Tissue, Fatty
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012768 Shivering Involuntary contraction or twitching of the muscles. It is a physiologic method of heat production in man and other mammals. Shiverings

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