A team of researchers from UCLA has discovered nerve pathways that supply brown adipose tissue (BAT), a type of tissue that releases chemical energy from fat metabolism as heat. This finding has significant implications in the treatment of obesity and related metabolic conditions.
The researchers have provided an in-depth analysis of the nerve supply to BAT for the first time. They have also demonstrated how manipulating this nerve supply can influence BAT activity, representing a crucial first step in understanding how to utilize it therapeutically. Dr. Preethi Srikanthan, the senior author and professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, stated that the largest deposits of BAT are found in the neck.
“We know from previous literature that the sympathetic nerve system is the main ‘on switch’ for BAT activity,” Srikanthan explained. “However, the sympathetic nervous system also affects other organs such as the heart and gut. Discovering the pathway of these sympathetic nerves to BAT will allow us to explore ways of specifically activating BAT without stimulating other organs.”
The full article detailing the research is published in the peer-reviewed journal, PLOS ONE.
The researchers conducted dissections of cadavers to trace the distribution of sympathetic nerve branches in the fat pad above the clavicle. They discovered nerve branches connecting the third and fourth cervical nerves to BAT in all the dissections. Furthermore, they found that clinical cases involving neck pathology resulted in changes in BAT activity, such as increased BAT temperature following tumor removal.
“There is a need to find long-term solutions for obesity, and while we have effective drugs, they require long-term usage for weight loss,” Srikanthan stated. The researchers aim to utilize their findings to encourage BAT to continuously produce fat-burning heat.
“There are studies suggesting that these drugs act by stimulating BAT, and we are conducting further research to confirm this,” she added. “By identifying the nerve pathways supplying BAT, we hope to explore methods of consistently stimulating these nerves and achieving similar therapeutic outcomes in weight loss.”
However, it is important to recognize the limitations of the study, including the small number of cadavers dissected and their advanced age, which may result in a smaller amount of BAT compared to younger bodies.
The study co-authors include researchers from UCLA, East Tennessee State University, and the University of Nottingham. The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
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