[¹¹C]carfentanil PET imaging for studying the peripheral opioid system in vivo: effect of photoperiod on mu-opioid receptor availability in brown adipose tissue.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Photoperiod determines the metabolic activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT) and affects the food intake and body mass of mammals. Sympathetic innervation of the BAT controls thermogenesis and facilitates physiological adaption to seasonal changes, but the exact mechanism remains elusive. Previous studies have shown that central opioid signaling regulates BAT thermogenesis, and that the expression of the brain mu-opioid receptor (MOR) varies seasonally. Therefore, it is important to know whether MOR expression in BAT shows seasonal variation.

Methods

We determined the effect of photoperiod on BAT MOR availability using [¹¹C]carfentanil positron emission tomography (PET). Adult rats (n = 9) were repeatedly imaged under various photoperiods in order to simula

SUBMITTER: Sun L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9816189 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature