Expression of c-erbA alpha, c-erbA beta and Rev-erbA alpha mRNA during the conversion of brown adipose tissue into white adipose tissue

The levels of mRNA encoding uncoupling protein (UCP), thyroid hormone receptors (c-erbA alpha, c-erbA beta) and a related protein Rev-erbA alpha have been studied in brown (pericervical) and white (perirenal) rabbit adipose tissues from birth to 180 days. The c-erbA alpha and c-erbA beta genes are expressed at similar levels in the two tissues. The alpha 1, alpha 2 and beta 1 transcripts do not change notably during development or during the conversion From brown to white phenotype which occurs in pericervical during postnatal life. Rev-erbA alpha mRNA is barely detectable at birth and dramatically increases between 7 and 30 days. However, this increase is not tissue-specific and is also observed in liver and heart. In conclusion, our results show that the decline in UCP expression during the transition from brown to white phenotype cannot be related to changes in the profiles of thyroid hormone receptors or Rev-erbA alpha mRNA expression. These profiles are not different between adipose tissue sites which are brown or white at birth.