关键词: 冬眠, 褐色脂肪组织, 体温调节, 肥胖

Abstract: Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a unique organ for adaptive thermogenesis of mammals to maintain constant body temperature. Maintaining a constant body temperature is energy costy, especially in cold environments. Hibernation is an effective energy-saving strategy for some small mammals during periods of scarce food resources and/or harsh environmental conditions. During hibernation, the body temperature of mammalian hibernators shows regular periodic cycles, which are called hibernation bouts. One hibernation bout consists of entrance, deep hibernation, arousal and euthermia. In this revew, we introducs the thermoregulatory mechanism of BAT in mammals, including the neural control of BAT thermogenesis by the central nervous system and the molecular pathways of heat production signals in BAT cells. Subsequently, we follow the order of the thermoregulatory cycle to describe the thermogenic mechanisms of BAT during the processes of entrance, deep hibernation, arousal, and euthermia, including the roles of adrenergic signaling, lipid metabolism, and mitochondrial respiration. Finally, the unique phenotype of BAT recruitment in fat-storing hibernating animals was described.

Key words: Hibernation, Brown adipose tissue, Thermoregulation, Obesity