ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of burn on brown adipose tissue (BAT) in BALB/c mice. MethodsForty 3-4 months old male BALB/c mice with initial body weight of (20±3) g were randomly divided into control group and burn group (n=20).BALB/c mice in burn group were subjected to a 30% total body surface area (TBSA) full-thickness thermal injury.BALB/c mice in control group were not treated.The body weight and temperature were observed before and after burn.At 7 days after burn,morphological changes of white adipose tissue (WAT) and BAT were observed,the gene and protein expressions of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP-1) were detected. ResultsThere was no significant difference in the body weight and body temperature before burn (P>0.05).At 1,2,3,and 4 weeks after burn,the body weight was significantly lower in burn group than in control group (P<0.05).At 1,2,3,and 7 days after burn,the body temperature was significantly higher in burn group than in control group (P<0.05).At 7 days after burn,the weight of WAT was significantly reduced,and the weight of BAT was significantly increased in burn group (P<0.05); WAT and BAT cells became smaller,cell number increased,the cytoplasm and mitochondria appeared as compact.The UCP-1 gene and protein expressions of burn group were significantly higher than those of control group (P<0.05). ConclusionBAT plays an important role in burn-induced hypermetabolism.