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Citation
Tags
HERO ID
7703294
Reference Type
Journal Article
Subtype
Review
Title
Thematic review series: adipocyte biology. Sympathetic and sensory innervation of white adipose tissue
Author(s)
Bartness, TJ; Song, CK
Year
2007
Is Peer Reviewed?
Yes
Journal
Journal of Lipid Research
ISSN:
0022-2275
EISSN:
1539-7262
Volume
48
Issue
8
Page Numbers
1655-1672
Language
English
PMID
17460327
DOI
10.1194/jlr.R700006-JLR200
Web of Science Id
WOS:000248044200001
Abstract
During our study of the reversal of seasonal obesity in Siberian hamsters, we found an interaction between receptors for the pineal hormone melatonin and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) outflow from brain to white adipose tissue (WAT). This ultimately led us and others to conclude that the SNS innervation of WAT is the primary initiator of lipid mobilization in these as well as other animals, including humans. There is strong neurochemical (norepinephrine turnover), neuroanatomical (viral tract tracing), and functional (sympathetic denervation-induced blockade of lipolysis) evidence for the role of the SNS in lipid mobilization. Recent findings suggest the presence of WAT sensory innervation based on strong neuroanatomical (viral tract tracing, immunohistochemical markers of sensory nerves) and suggestive functional (capsaicin sensory denervation-induced WAT growth) evidence, the latter implying a role in conveying adiposity information to the brain. By contrast, parasympathetic nervous system innervation of WAT is characterized by largely negative neuroanatomical evidence (viral tract tracing, immunohistochemical and biochemical markers of parasympathetic nerves). Functional evidence (intraneural stimulation and in situ microdialysis) for the role of the SNS innervation in lipid mobilization in human WAT is convincing, with some controversy regarding the level of sympathetic nerve activity in human obesity.
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