Histomorphological changes in brown adipose tissue and energy metabolism in rats of different ages with induced visceral obesity

Roman Yanko; Mikhail Levashov; Olena Chaka

Roman Yanko Department of Clinical Physiology of Connective Tissue, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
Mikhail Levashov Department of Clinical Physiology of Connective Tissue, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine
Olena Chaka Department of Clinical Physiology of Connective Tissue, Bogomoletz Institute of Physiology National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kiev, Ukraine

Keywords: high-calorie diet, adipose tissue morphometry, alimentary obesity

Abstract

The question of the mechanisms of interrelationship between age-related changes in the morpho-functional state of brown adipose tissue (BAT) with the state of energy metabolism and their role in the pathogenesis of visceral obesity (VO) remains open. The aim of this work was to compare histomorphological changes in BAT of rats of different ages with VO. The study was conducted in male Wistar rats aged 6 and 21 months. VO was modeled in the animals by 12 weeks of exposure to a high-calorie diet. Histological preparations were made from the interscapular bodies of the BAT. Blood serum concentrations of lipids and cholesterol were determined. Total oxygen consumption and rectal temperature were measured in rats. VO leads to morphological changes in the BAT, indicating its hypofunction. The increase in BAT weight is due to the hypertrophy of adipocytes and their transformation into white adipose tissue. With VO, total oxygen consumption and rectal temperature increase, they were indicating the presence of a certain degree of disruption of oxidation and phosphorylation processes. The intensity of BAT histomorphological disturbances and energy metabolism is more pronounced in young rats and depends on the degree of obesity.