There are two different types of adipocytes within
white adipose tissue: normal ‘white’ fat cells and ‘brite’
brown-in-white adipocytes. The latter express decoupled
protein 1, a classic marker of brown fat cells, although they
do not have the same molecular properties as brown fat
cells (11). The distribution of these ‘brite’ adipocytes
within white fat depots differed in mice (12). The different
distribution of these ‘brite’ adipocytes in fat depots affects
their metabolic processes, which could influence lipid
release in adipose tissue (12). However, the authors do not
mention any link with metabolic syndrome, and further
investigations are necessary to evaluate a relationship
between these ‘brite’ adipocytes and metabolic syndrome.
To date, there is a lack of studies in horses and humans
concerning this issue.