In the present study, both NE and IL-6 were evidently elevated in WAT and BAT of rats with HF-induced cachexia (P < 0.01; Fig. 6E-H); moreover, the expression levels of β3 AR and the sympathetic marker Th also increased (P < 0.01; Fig. 6A-D) [28–30]. Here, IL6 is linked to hydrops fetalis.