[12] Brown Adipose Tissue Flashcards
What is Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT)?
A type of fat tissue that specializes in burning energy to produce heat.
Where is BAT primarily located in humans?
In the neck and shoulder regions.
What are the key characteristics of Brown Adipose Tissue cells?
- Multilocular (multiple small lipid droplets)
- High mitochondrial content
- Presence of UCP1
What is the main function of BAT?
Thermogenesis (heat production), particularly in response to cold or overeating.
How does BAT differ from white adipose tissue (WAT)?
BAT burns energy to produce heat, while WAT stores energy as fat.
How does BAT contribute to body temperature regulation?
By rapidly burning fats and sugars to produce heat, especially in response to cold exposure.
What is the significance of BAT in newborns?
It plays a vital role in helping newborns, who cannot shiver, to maintain body temperature.
What role does BAT play in diet-induced thermogenesis?
It helps burn excess calories consumed in the diet, generating heat instead of storing energy.
How does UCP1 function in BAT?
UCP1 uncouples the proton gradient in mitochondria, allowing energy to be dissipated as heat.
What happens to BAT as humans age?
BAT activity generally decreases with age.
What is the full form of BAT?
Brown Adipose Tissue.
What is the full form of UCP1?
Uncoupling Protein 1.
What is the full form of WAT?
White Adipose Tissue.
How is BAT activity regulated?
Primarily by the sympathetic nervous system, in response to cold or dietary factors.
How is BAT detected in the human body?
By PET scans, as it takes up a lot of glucose and has a high metabolic rate.
