Effect of cold stress on lipogenesis by adipose tissue

Abstract

The effect of cold stress on acetate metabolism by adipose tissue was investigated. Cold stress did not affect the ability of the epididymal fat pad to oxidize acetate-1-C¹⁴ to C¹⁴O₂. The addition of unlabeled glucose to the incubation medium did not influence the rate of acetate oxidation in the case of adipose tissue obtained from either control or cold-stressed rats. In the absence of unlabeled glucose, more fatty acids from acetate-1-C¹⁴ were synthesized by the adipose tissue from control rats than by that from cold-stressed rats, although very little was synthesized by either. The addition of unlabeled glucose to the incubation medium at the physiologic concentration of 100 mg % caused the adipose tissue from both normal and cold-stressed rats to form fatty acids at high rates. It is a striking finding that cold stress, which almost abolishes hepatic lipogenesis, does not appreciably alter adipose tissue lipogenesis.