The effects of 2-deoxy-D-glucose on brown adipose tissue of lean and obese Zucker rats.

The response of brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis, as measured by mitochondrial GDP binding, of lean and obese Zucker fa/fa rats to 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DOG) has been investigated. 2-DOG reduced BAT mitochondrial GDP binding of lean rats but had no effect in obese rats. Adrenalectomy increased BAT GDP binding in obese rats and restored the 2-DOG inhibitory effect. Corticosterone inhibited GDP binding in lean rats and abolished the 2-DOG inhibitory effect. 2-DOG induced hyperphagia and hyperglycaemia in lean rats, but these effects were either absent or attenuated in the obese. The possibility that a glucocorticoid inhibition of glucose metabolism impairs sympathetic activity in the obese rats is discussed.