Poster #065, Cedars Sinai Medical Center
Role of Sympathetic Nerve Regeneration in Age-Related Metabolic Improvement of White Adipose Tissue
Mentors: Nancy Morones, PhD and Celine E. Riera, PhD
Obesity is a metabolic disease that is both a widespread epidemic and significant risk to other life-threatening conditions. To balance energy intake and expenditure, the sympathetic nervous system communicates with various organs such as adipose tissue (AT). With aging, the sympathetic innervation of white adipose tissue (WAT) becomes notably reduced, correlating with metabolic disfunction and reduced expression of neural growth factor. In our study, we hypothesized that nerve regeneration leads to improved adipocyte function and metabolic health in older models. To test this, aged mice received viral vectors that induced adipose-specific NGF secretion followed by either gonadal WAT sympathetic nerve ablation using 6-Hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) neurotoxin or sham saline treatment control. Experimental mice were compared with treatment controls for weight fluctuation, AT mass, and ex vivo lipolysis. AT depots were also collected for further analysis via Western Blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. If our hypothesis is correct, the 6-OHDA neurotoxin sympathetic nerve ablation in adipose tissue will negate the effects of NGF resulting in more adiposity, reduced capacity for lipolysis, and decreased fat use. Future studies using nerve regeneration could provide a promising pathway for combating age-related obesity and other metabolic conditions.