title: Adrenergic activation of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA expression in rat brown adipose tissue: implication in cold-induced angiogenesis.
abstract: Cold exposure produces adaptive hyperplasia and growth of brown adipose tissue (BAT), the major site of non-shivering thermogenesis in rodents, associated with increased angiogenesis in this tissue. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), one of the most potent angiogenic factors, was found to be expressed abundantly in BAT of the rat. When rats were exposed to cold at 4 degrees C, the VEGF mRNA level in BAT was increased by 2-3-fold in 1-4 h, but returned to the basal level within 24 h. VEGF expression in other tissues such as heart, kidney and lung did not change after cold exposure. The cold-induced increase in VEGF mRNA was abolished by surgical sympathetic denervation, but mimicked by administration of noradrenaline or a beta3-adrenoceptor agonist CL316,243, indicating the critical role of the beta-adrenergic pathway in VEGF expression in BAT. Among three isoforms of VEGF, the mRNA of a short form (VEGF120) lacking heparin-binding activity was preferentially increased after cold exposure and treatment with the adrenergic agonists. These results suggest that cold exposure activates the sympathetic nerves and leads to a rapid increase in synthesis of VEGF in BAT, which in turn stimulates the proliferation of surrounding vascular endothelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morimatsu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nikami
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: D002001:Adipose Tissue, Brown / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D003080:Cold Temperature; D004149:Dioxoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007536:Isomerism; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013562:Sympathectomy; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D004149:Dioxoles; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; C076126:disodium (R,R)-5-(2-((2-(3-chlorophenyl)-2-hydroxyethyl)-amino)propyl)-1,3-benzodioxole-2,3-dicarboxylate; D009638:Norepinephrine