Brain-derived neurotrophic factor modulates mitochondrial dynamics and thermogenic phenotype on 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

•Activation of thermogenesis can be exploited to develop new therapies for obesity.•Mitochondria provide thermogenic properties of adipocytes.•BDNF induces mitochondrial fission after 24 h treatment in 3T3-L1 cells.•An intermediate phenotype arises after 3 h BDNF treatment.•BDNF affects expression of thermogenesis markers and mitochondrial dynamic proteins.