Assessment of Brown Adipocyte Thermogenic Function by High-throughput Respirometry

Abstract

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) has the unique ability to dramatically increase mitochondrial uncoupled fuel oxidation for thermogenesis in response to adrenergic stimulation. A key parameter in assessing brown adipocyte thermogenic capacity is mitochondrial uncoupling as determined by respiration. Measuring mitochondrial oxygen consumption rate (OCR) therefore provides valuable information to study the regulation and dysregulation of fuel metabolism and energy expenditure. Adding measurements of mitochondrial membrane potential allows for more in-depth interpretation of the respirometry data. Here we provide protocols for measuring respiration in adherent intact and plasma membrane permeabilized brown adipocytes using the Seahorse XF Analyzer. In the protocol Part I, a combination of norepinephrine and free fatty acids are used to induce uncoupled respiration. The ATP Synthase inhibitor oligomycin, the chemical uncoupler FCCP, and the complex III inhibitor Antimycin A are then used to measure coupled, maximal, and non-mitochondrial oxygen consumption, respectively. In the protocol Part II, the plasma membrane is permeabilized with recombinant perfringolysin O, a cholesterol-dependent cytolysin that oligomerizes into pores exclusively in the plasma membrane. This permits experimental control of metabolite availability without separating mitochondria from the native cell environment.