Abstract: Objective To investigate whether mGluR5 could regulate white adipocytes browning. Methods Western blot was used to test the expression of mGluR5 in white and brown adipose tissue. Lipid droplets morphology was microscoped after BODIPY staining. Brown adipocytes specific genes and mitochondrial related genes were analyzed by RT-qPCR in mGluR5 antagonists treated 3T3L1 cells. OCR experiments and free glycerol release assay were carried out in 3T3L1 cells after incubation with mGluR5 antagonists. Results mGluR5 expressed in both white and brown adipose tissues. The expression in white fat was higher than that in brown fat(P＜0.05). Lipid droplets morphology in adipocytes changed after treatment with mGluR5 antagonists. mGluR5 antagonists promoted the expression of browning genes and mitochondrial related genes, increased mitochondrial respiration rate and promotes lipolysis in 3T3L1 cells. Conclusions Inhibition of mGluR5 may promote white adipocyte browning.

Key words: metabotropic glutamate receptor subtype 5, white adipocyte, brown adipocyte, browning