part of part of develops from adipocyte brown adipocyte brown fat cell https://cellxgene.cziscience.com/cellguide/CL_0000449 CALOHA:TS-0099 brown adipose cell A cell from the thermogenic form of adipose tissue found in many species, particularly in newborns and hibernating mammals, but also in lesser amounts in adults of other mammals including humans. Brown fat is capable of rapid liberation of energy and seems to be important in the maintenance of body temperature immediately after birth and upon waking from hibernation. FMA:83435 Brown fat cells, also known as brown adipocytes, form a type of adipose tissue that regulates energy by thermogenesis (heat production). These cells are rich in mitochondria, which lends them their characteristic brown colouring. Mitochondria are crucial to the brown fat cell's function since they contain an integral protein called uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). This protein permits protons to leak across the mitochondrial inner membrane, disrupting the usual pathway of ATP production. Instead of generating ATP, the energy derived from glucose and fatty acids is dissipated as heat. This unique function makes brown fat cells an important biological tool for regulating body temperature, especially in infants and hibernating animals. While historically believed to be primarily relevant in newborns, recent findings highlight a role of brown fat cells in adults as well. They provide significant health benefits by metabolising excess glucose in the body and burning unwanted fat, and thereby raising the possibilities of using brown fat cells therapeutically for conditions like obesity or diabetes. Furthermore, stimulation of brown fat activity in adults is linked with improved overall metabolic health and lower risk of metabolic syndrome. (This extended description was generated by ChatGPT and reviewed by the CellGuide team, who added references, and by the CL editors, who approved it for inclusion in CL. It may contain information that applies only to some subtypes and species, and so should not be considered definitional.) brown preadipocyte brown adipose tissue