Brown Adipocytes
Brown Adipocytes

Brown Adipocytes

Brown adipose tissue is typically found in large amounts in newborns and some hibernating animals and is important as a source of energy. The cells in brown fat contain numerous and very distinct lipid droplets. The presence of an uncoupling protein in these cells causes the generation of heat that allows for non-shivering thermogenesis. Brown adipocytes contain numerous mitochondria where the uncoupling of the electron transport chain and the generation of heat takes place. The cytochromes of the inner mitochondrial membrane give this type of adipose tissue its brown appearance.