A team of researchers has mapped the nerve pathways that power brown fat, a key step toward new treatments for obesity. This tissue, unlike white fat, burns calories by producing heat. The discovery could lead to innovative ways to stimulate weight loss.
The nerve map
The surprising brown fat: brown adipose tissue (BAT), has been the focus of much research since its discovery in 1972. Unlike white fat, which stores energy, BAT burns calories by producing heat, a process known as thermogenesis.
Brown fat takes its name from its distinctive appearance due to the presence of a high number of mitochondria. Mitochondria are the “powerhouses” of cells and contain a pigment called cytochrome that gives brown fat its characteristic color.
In a recent study, UCLA researchers traced the nerve pathways that feed BAT in the neck and supraclavicular area, above the collarbone. Why is this an important thing?
In search of brown fat
Preethi Srikanthan, lead author of the study (that I link to you here), highlighted the importance of the sympathetic nervous system in regulating BAT activity. However, stimulating the sympathetic system could have side effects on other organs, such as the heart and intestines.
Mapping the specific nerves that reach the BAT could offer a solution to this problem. It would help us understand how we can specifically stimulate BAT without affecting other organs.
Study methods and clinical implications
To trace the nerve pathways involving brown fat, the researchers carefully dissected the necks of eight cadavers. They identified several sympathetic pathways that innervate the area, including the third and fourth cervical nerves and the cervical sympathetic plexus. The latter is a network of nerve fibers that innervates some structures of the neck and chest.
The research also revealed that BAT activity can change in the presence of neck conditions. For example, removing a tumor can alter nerve activity and, consequently, the temperature of brown fat.
Brown fat, towards new treatments
The study's ultimate goal is to leverage these findings to develop treatments that constantly stimulate brown fat, turning it into a continuous source of fat-burning heat. Finding long-term solutions for obesity is crucial: even if there are effective drugs such as ozempic, wegovy e mounjaro, their long-term intake presents dark sides and dangers.
Of course, this study has some limitations: the still small number of samples and their advanced age could influence the results. However, the research paves the way for further studies and potential clinical applications. Brown fat is a really interesting tissue, and every step forward in understanding it brings us closer to a healthier and fitter future.
