Inverse distribution of uncoupling proteins expression and oxidative capacity in mature adipocytes and stromal-vascular fractions of rat white and brown adipose tissues.

To investigate relationships between the uncoupling protein (UCP) family and oxidative metabolism in fat pads, we measured the cytochrome oxidase activity, used as an index of oxidative capacity, and the mRNA content encoding UCP1, UCP2 and UCP3. Most oxidative potential was found in the stromal-vascular fraction (SVF) of brown fat and in mature adipocytes of white fat (inguinal and periovarian). Considering the whole fat pads, the oxidative potential observed in mature white adipocytes fraction was not negligible compared with that of brown adipocytes fraction. UCP1 and UCP3 were expressed exclusively in mature brown adipocytes. Whatever the deposit, UCP2 mRNA was mainly localized in the SVF. These results indicate that, in fat, high oxidative potential is not necessarily linked to high UCPs transcripts content and point out the oxidative capacity of SVF from brown fat.