Noradrenaline Appearance in Guinea Pig Brown Adipose Tissue

Abstract

A rapid growth of the guinea pig brown adipose tissue occurred during the last third of fetal life. Endogenous noradrenaline was measurable from day 55 of gestation and rose until birth. The maximal noradrenaline concentration was achieved on the first day of extrauterine life and remained constant during the postnatal period. So, noradrenaline was present in brown adipose tissue at birth and could mediate the neonatal nonshivering thermogenesis activation as suggested in the discussion.