title: The effect of anti-hypertensive drug treatment on brown adipocyte diameter and locule distribution in rats.
abstract: To determine the effects of sympathoplegic anti-hypertensive drug treatment on brown adipose tissue morphology, groups of adult male Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneous hypertensive (SHR) rats were orally administered a solution containing 2.3 microM reserpine, 0.5 M hydralazine and 1.68 mM hydrochlorothiazide ad libitum or tap water and brown adipocyte diameter and extent of fat loculization were determined 3 weeks later. Pulse rates of rats were significantly greater in SHR than WKY and were unaffected by treatment, while drug treatment resulted in significant decreases in mean arterial pressure of both groups at the end of the study. Mean adipocyte diameters were smaller in untreated SHR than WKY and drug treatment of both groups was associated with increases in adipocyte diameter and cytological change from physiologically more active to less active cells. These drug-induced alterations in BAT morphology area consistent with decreased sympathetic activity and suggest that thermogenic capacity of brown adipose tissue may be pharmacologically modified, thereby altering an animal's capacity for energy expenditure.
mesh_terms: D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D011674:Pulse / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents