GABA and its neural regulation in rat brown adipose tissue.

By using a radioreceptor assay GABA was detectable in rat interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT), the levels being 1% those of CNS and 10-fold those of peripheral plasma. Injection of the glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) inhibitor 3-mercaptopropionic acid lowered IBAT GABA levels by about half while injection of the GABA transaminase inhibitor gamma-acetylenic GABA increased them by 230%. Rats kept at 4 degrees C for 14 days exhibited IBAT GABA levels that were about half those found at 22 degrees C. Accumulation of IBAT GABA after gamma-acetylenic GABA increased by 2-fold in cold-exposed rats. Sympathetic denervation of IBAT prevented the effect of the cold environment on GABA content and impaired that on GABA accumulation. GAD activity was detectable in IBAT homogenates and isolated brown adipocytes. Exposure of rats to cold increased Vmax of GAD without modifying its Km, regardless of intactness of innervation. In binding studies with 3H-GABA as a ligand, two types of sites were uncovered of KD = 14 and 146 nM, respectively. In the presence of 2.5 mM Ca2+ bicuculline and baclofen were 57 and 46% as effective as GABA to displace 3H-GABA from IBAT binding sites. The results indicate existence, possible synthesis and type A and B receptors of GABA in rat IBAT.