Fig. 1

BDNF is expressed in scWAT SVF fraction; LysMCre^±::BDNF^−/− (KO) mice have lower energy expenditure. Adult male CB57/BL6 mice were cold exposed at 5 °C and SVF was isolated from mature adipocytes of the inguinal scWAT depot. Differences in gene expression between adipose compartments of neurotrophic factors, Bdnf, Ngf, and Vegfa, is shown (p ≤ 0.0001, p = 0.1572, p = 0.0767, respectively) (a). Data analyzed by Student’s t-test, two-tailed, N = 4. Illustration of KO model generation (b). BDNF gene expression in adipose SVF of LysMCre^−/−::BDNF^fl/fl (CON) versus LysMCre^±::BDNF^−/− (KO) mice, p = 0.0001 (c). Data analyzed by Student’s t-test, two-tailed, N = 4 per group. Gene expression of Bdnf in hypothalamus of LysMCre^−/−::BDNF^fl/fl (CON) versus LysMCre^±::BDNF^−/− (KO) mice, p = 0.6132 (d). Data analyzed by Student’s t-test, two-tailed, N = 5 CON; N = 6 KO. Adult (8–12 week old) male CON and KO mice were assessed in metabolic cages (CLAMS). KO mice displayed lower energy expenditure represented as heat calculated from measures of VO₂ and VCO₂ over the whole 24 h, p ≤ 0.0001 (e). Waveform analysis of metabolic cage measurements taken at 15 min increments for 48 h. Time of day is indicated on the x-axis, animals were maintained on a 12 h light/dark cycle (black bars indicate dark cycle). For all error bars are SEMs