Does cytoplasmic alkalinization trigger mitochondrial energy dissipation in the brown adipocyte?

Indirect calorimetry measurements showed that brown fat thermogenesis was very sensitive to modifications of intra-cellular pH induced by extracellular acid-base perturbations. Specific blockage of active Na-K transport by ouabain inhibited the thermogenic response only in acidosis and more efficiently when the glycoside was administered before the catecholamine stimulus than when it was added after the full calorigenic response had developed. It is suggested that the catecholamine stimulus might initiate a positive feed-back alkalinization of the cytoplasm, concomitant with activation of Na-K transport.