The Journal of General Physiology
Axon Instruments microelectrode amplifiers
  Home | Help | Feedback | Subscriptions | Archive | Search | Table of Contents

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF, 884K)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Services
Right arrow Email this article
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new content in the JGP
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Girardier, L.
Right arrow Articles by Clausen, T.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Girardier, L.
Right arrow Articles by Clausen, T.
Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike   Add to Complore   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us   Add to Digg   Add to Reddit   Add to Technorati  
What's this?
The Journal of General Physiology, Vol 52, 925-940, Copyright © 1968 by The Rockefeller University Press


ARTICLE

Membrane Potential of Brown Adipose Tissue

A suggested mechanism for the regulation of thermogenesis



L. Girardier 1, J. Seydoux 1, and T. Clausen 1

1 From the Institut de Physiologie and the Institut de Biochimie Clinique, Université de Geneve, Switzerland.

Dr. Clausen's present address is the Institute of Physiology, Århus University, Århus C, Denmark

Membrane potentials were recorded in isolated segments of interscapular brown adipose tissue from rats. After equilibration at 29°C in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer a mean value of -51 ± 4 mv (SD) was found. This level could be maintained for up to 5 hr. The mean effective membrane resistance was 1.35 ± 0.45 megohm. The membrane potential was a function of the extracellular potassium concentration. Ouabain (10-6-10-3 M) and incubation in K-free buffer produced progressive depolarization. Epinephrine and norepinephrine in concentrations as low as 10-8 g/ml produced a prompt depolarization. Cooling of the tissue and lowering of the oxygen tension caused a marked and reversible decrease in the membrane potential. In tissue obtained from cold-adapted rats, the membrane potential was considerably diminished. 6Assuming that the membrane potential is some function of the Na permeability of the plasma membrane it is suggested that an increase in the rate of active Na-K transport and ensuing ADP formation might contribute to the increase in respiration seen during exposure to thermogenic stimuli.

Submitted on August 3, 1968


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Physiol. Rev.Home page
B. CANNON and J. NEDERGAARD
Brown Adipose Tissue: Function and Physiological Significance
Physiol Rev, January 1, 2004; 84(1): 277 - 359.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
A. Koivisto, D. Siemen, and J. Nedergaard
Norepinephrine-induced sustained inward current in brown fat cells: alpha 1-mediated by nonselective cation channels
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, November 1, 2000; 279(5): E963 - E977.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]



  Home | Help | Feedback | Subscriptions | Archive | Search | Table of Contents