International Journal of Molecular Zoology 2024, Vol.14, No.4, 211-221 http://animalscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmz 211 Research Report Open Access Regulation of Energy Metabolism in Mammals: The Role of Brown Adipose Tissue Jun Li, Jing He Animal Science Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China Corresponding author: jing.he@cuixi.org International Journal of Molecular Zoology, 2024, Vol.14, No.4 doi: 10.5376/ijmz.2024.14.0019 Received: 12 May, 2024 Accepted: 23 Jun., 2024 Published: 15 Jul., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Li and He, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Li J., and He J., 2024, Regulation of energy metabolism in mammals: the role of brown adipose tissue, International Journal of Molecular Zoology, 14(4): 211-221 (doi: 10.5376/ijmz.2024.14.0019) Abstract Energy metabolism in mammals is a complex process regulated by various tissues and organs, with brown adipose tissue (BAT) playing a crucial role. BAT is essential for thermogenesis, regulation of body weight, and the overall energy balance in mammals. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the structure, function, and distribution of BAT, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying its activation. The role of BAT in energy metabolism, particularly in thermogenesis and the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism, is discussed in detail. Furthermore, this study explore the genetic, epigenetic, hormonal, and environmental factors that regulate BAT activity, highlighting key signaling pathways. A case study on BAT's role in obesity and metabolic diseases is presented, including methods for detecting BAT, its potential as a therapeutic target, and relevant clinical trials. Comparative analyses of BAT function across different mammalian species offer insights into its evolutionary significance. This study concludes with a discussion on future directions in BAT research, emphasizing the potential for BAT-targeted therapies and advances in imaging techniques, and underscores the importance of BAT in maintaining energy homeostasis and its therapeutic potential in managing metabolic diseases. Keywords Brown adipose tissue; Energy metabolism; Thermogenesis; Obesity; Metabolic diseases 1 Introduction Energy metabolism in mammals encompasses a complex array of chemical processes that manage the uptake, conversion, storage, and breakdown of nutrients to maintain metabolic homeostasis. This intricate system is tightly regulated to adapt to environmental cycles, such as the day-night rhythm, through endogenous circadian clocks (Heyde et al., 2021). Adipose tissues, including white adipose tissue (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT), play pivotal roles in this regulation. WAT primarily stores energy in the form of triglycerides, which can be mobilized during periods of energy deficit (Luo and Liu, 2016). In contrast, BAT is specialized in energy expenditure through nonshivering thermogenesis, a process that generates heat by burning calories (Wang et al., 2021). Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is crucial for maintaining body temperature and overall energy balance in mammals. Unlike WAT, which stores energy, BAT dissipates energy as heat, a process essential for thermoregulation and metabolic homeostasis (Townsend and Tseng, 2014). BAT's ability to utilize various energy substrates, including lipids and glucose, makes it a significant player in whole-body metabolism (Choe et al., 2016). Recent studies have highlighted BAT's potential in combating obesity and metabolic disorders due to its unique capacity to burn calories and improve insulin sensitivity (Mottillo et al., 2016). The dynamic and flexible metabolism of BAT supports its role as an "energy sink," making it a promising target for therapeutic strategies against obesity and related conditions (Poekes et al., 2015). This study elucidates the regulatory mechanisms of energy metabolism in mammals, with a particular focus on the role of brown adipose tissue (BAT). By exploring the metabolic pathways and functions of BAT, this study seeks to understand how this tissue contributes to overall energy homeostasis and its potential therapeutic applications in treating obesity and metabolic disorders. Through a comprehensive review of recent findings, this study intends to highlight the significance of BAT in energy regulation and its interaction with other metabolic tissues.
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