ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Local fat accumulation is a health risk and this has raised interest in the development of aesthetic treatments, such as cryo-radiofrequency (CRF). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the consequences of CRF in adipose tissue remodeling in a model system. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lean and high-fat diet-induced obese mice were assessed 7 days after one CRF application; and lean mice were assessed 0, 3, 6 and 12 h after one application of CRF. Assessments included histology, DNA degradation, gene expression, ELISA of cytokines, serum analysis and neutrophil presence. RESULTS: Unchanged fat mass was found 7 days after CRF in obese and lean mice. However, lean mice showed smaller adipocyte size with areas resembling a browning process. TNF levels, apoptotic cells, and UCP-1 expression increased 7 days after CRF in inguinal adipose tissue of lean mice. Although no differences were found in fat mass, adipocyte size decreased just after CRF and this changed was maintained until 12 h, with cells resembling beige adipocytes. CONCLUSION: We suggest that CRF therapy is capable of inducing thermogenic adipocytes in lean mice.
