First Observations of Brown Fat in Birds

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Abstract
Brown fat, the multilocular fat involved in non-shivering thermogenesis in many mammals, is generally believed to be absent in birds. Physiological data indicate that non-shivering thermogenesis does not occur in adult birds. Adipose tissues from a ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) and 2 blackcapped chickadees (Parus atricapillus) were found to show typical histological and ultrastructural features of mammalian brown fat. The cells of these tissues were polygonal with central nuclei, multiple lipid droplets and numerous welldeveloped mitochondria. An extensive capillary bed permeated the tissue. Although no direct demonstration of thermogenesis by this tissue was attempted, its remarkable similarity to mammalian brown fat suggests that non-shivering thermogenesis in birds should be reinvestigated.

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