Immunohistochemical evidence for the existence of a dopamine- and cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein (DARPP-32) in brown adipose tissue of pigs. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The indirect immunofluorescence technique was used to study the cellular localization of DARPP-32, a dopamine- and cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein, in brown adipose tissue of newborn piglets. Clusters of strongly DARPP-32-immunoreactive cells were found in brown adipose tissue from the interscapular area and around lymph nodes close to the kidneys, adrenal glands, descending aorta, and great veins in the neck. The DARPP-32-immunoreactive cells contained multilocular lipid droplets, had round, centrally located nuclei, and were polygonal in shape, thus possessing characteristics and location sites typical for brown fat cells. The results indicate that brown adipose tissue from the newborn pig contains DARPP-32, an intracellular third messenger for dopamine. Together with recent functional data, these results strongly suggest that dopaminergic D1 mechanisms--i.e., activation of adenylate cyclase and formation of cyclic AMP--may be involved in cold-induced, nonshivering, and/or diet-induced thermogenesis.

publication date

  • November 1, 1988

Research

keywords

  • Adipose Tissue, Brown
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Dopamine
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Phosphoproteins

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC282531

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 0024203527

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1073/pnas.85.22.8713

PubMed ID

  • 2847173

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 85

issue

  • 22