Oxidative Metabolism in Cells Isolated from Brown Adipose Tissue

Brown fat cells exhibit a classical mitochondrial electron transport system. The respiration of brown fat cells can be stimulated by nor‐epinephrine and this hormonally mediated respiration can be mimicked by oleate. Both nor‐epinephrine and oleate‐stimulated respiration can be blocked by rotenone, antimycin, azide and malonate, and the antimycin block can be by‐passed by tetramethyl‐ p ‐phenylenediamine. α‐Glycerol phosphate and succinate were found to stimulate respiration. The potent α‐glycerol phosphate oxidase cannot quantitatively contribute to the respiration evoked during catecholamine induced thermogenesis.