Thermogenic Response to Glucagon in Cold-acclimated Mice

Abstract

Heat production after injection of glucagon and norepinephrine was measured in warm- and cold-acclimated mice. Glucagon and norepinephrine in a dose of 100µg/100 g caused a marked increase in oxygen consumption. Heat production after administration of glucagon and norepinephrine was significantly potentiated by cold acclimation. A significant positive correlation was observed between the increase in oxygen consumption after injection of glucagon or norepinephrine and the weight of brown adipose tissue in warm- and cold-acchmated mice. These findings indicate that glucagon is a calorigenic hormone in mice and its effect is potentiated by cold acclimation possibly due to an activation of thermogenic mechanism(s) in brown adipose tissue. © 1982, PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN. All rights reserved.