Control of blood vessels can treat obesity

Mice exposed to low temperatures develop more blood vessels in their adipose tissue and metabolise body fat more quickly, according to a new study from Karolinska Institutet.

By Sophia Carlsson

January 7, 2009 12:00 AM

Researchers now hope

to learn how to control blood vessel development in humans in order to combat obesity and diabetes. The growth of fat cells and their metabolism depend on oxygen and blood-borne nutrients. A possible way to regulate the amount of body fat in order, for instance, to combat obesity, can therefore be to affect the development of blood vessels in the adipose tissue.

A team of researchers

at Karolinska Institutet have now demonstrated the rapid development of blood vessels in the adipose tissue of mice exposed to low temperatures. This is followed in its turn by a transformation of the adipose tissue from white fat to brown fat, which has higher metabolic activity and which breaks down more quickly.

Brown fat releases heat

when it breaks down, and is mainly found in hibernating animals. In humans, it is found in newborn babies, but researchers believe by controlling blood vessel development that it might be possible to transform white fat to brown fat in adults as well.

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