Adrenalectomy fails to stimulate brown adipose tissue metabolism in ob/ob mice fed glucose

Abstract

Adrenalectomy arrests the development of obesity in ob/ob mice fed nonpurified high-starch diets partly by stimulating the low thermogenic activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT). However, adrenalectomy fails to suppress the development of obesity in ob/ob mice fed a purified high-glucose diet. Effects of adrenalectomy on BAT metabolism in ob/ob mice fed purified high-starch or high-glucose diets were therefore examined. Adrenalectomy markedly decreased the efficiency of energy retention and increased BAT metabolism (as assessed by GDP binding to BAT mitochondria, GDP-inhibitable acetate- or chloride-induced mitochondrial swelling, and by rates of norepinephrine turnover in BAT) in ob/ob mice fed a high-starch purified diet but had only minimal effects on energy efficiency or BAT metabolism in ob/ob mice fed a high-glucose purified diet. Plasma insulin concentrations decreased and thyroxine concentrations increased in adrenalectomized ob/ob mice fed the high-starch diet; changes in these hormones were less pronounced in adrenalectomized ob/ob mice fed the high-glucose diet. Consumption of glucose mimics effects of adrenal secretions on BAT metabolism in ob/ob mice.