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OBESITY AND DIABETES: PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS AND THERAPEUTIC APPROACHES

Effect of Olfactory Stimulation with Flavor of Grapefruit Oil and Lemon Oil on the Activity of Sympathetic Branch in the White Adipose Tissue of the Epididymis

Akira Niijima^*,1 and Katsuya Nagai

^* Niigata University School of Medicine, Asahimachi-dori, Niigata 951-8510, Japan, and
Division of Protein Metabolism, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan

Abstract

It has been mentioned in the field of aromatherapy that the fragrance of grapefruit has a refreshing and exciting effect, which suggests an activation of sympathetic nerve activity. It also can be assumed that the activation of sympathetic nerve innervating the white adipose tissue (WAT) facilitates lipolysis, then results in a suppression of body weight gain. This study addressed the effect of olfactory stimulation with the scent of grapefruit oil and lemon oil on the efferent nerve activity in the sympathetic branch of the WAT of the epididymis in the anesthetized rat. The results of the experiments demonstrated that the flavor of the citron group increased sympathetic nerve activity to WAT in anaesthetized rat, which suggests an increase in lipolysis and a suppression in body weight gain.

Key Words: flavor • sympathetic nerve • adipose tissue • aromatherapy