Characterization of a novel adipose tissue located between abdominal lymph nodes and cervix/prostate in mice.

Abstract

Perigonadal adipose tissue is a homogeneous white adipose tissue (WAT) in adult male mice, without any brown adipose tissue (BAT) present. However, there are congenital differences in the gonads between male and female mice. Whether heterogeneity existed in perigonadal ATs in female mice remains unknown. This study reported a perigonadal BAT located between abdominal lymph nodes and uterine cervix in female mice, termed lymph node-cervical adipose tissue (LNCAT). Its counterpart, lymph node-prostatic adipose tissue (LNPAT), exhibited white phenotype in adult virgin male mice. When exposed to cold, LNCAT/LNPAT increased UCP1 expression via activation of TH, in which abdominal lymph nodes were involved. Interestingly, the UCP1 expression in LNCAT/LNPAT varied under different reproductive stages. The UCP1 expression in LNCAT was upregulated at early pregnancy, declined at mid-late pregnancy, and reverted in weaning dams. Mating behavior stimulated LNPAT browning in male mice. We found that androgen but not estrogen or progesterone inhibited UCP1 expression in LNCAT. Androgen administration reversed the castration-induced LNPAT browning. Our results identified a perigonadal BAT in female mice and characterized its UCP1 expression patterns under various conditions.