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Lecture V

Adipose Tissue

Bismark Oliver C. Lemana, M.Sc.

Biological Sciences Department, College of Science University of Santo Tomas, Manila

Adipocytes
Cells (fat cells) of the adipose tissue Very wide distribution
15-20% in males (from total body weight) 20-25% in females (from total body weight)

Main functions:
Energy deposits Metabolism For organ stability Shock absorbers (palms and soles of foot)

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Adipose Tissue
Largest energy storage
Triglycerides Other storage organs:
Liver and skeletal muscles (glycogen)

Endocrine and signaling organ

Hormone secretion

Thermal insulator

Adipose Tissue
Two main types:
White adipose tissue
More common Large, single, yellow-whitish fat droplets

Brown adipose tissue

Multiple droplets Abundant mitochondria (brown appearance)

highly vascularized

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Histogenesis of Adipose Tissue

White Adipose Tissue

Long-term energy storage Single lipid droplet (85% of cell weight)
Unilocular (triglycerides)

Signet Ring Cell

Under normal histological preparations Flattened nucleus at one end of the cell

TEM
Multiple droplets
Vimentin intermediate filaments instead of membrane

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White Adipose Tissue

Components:
Adipocytes Fibroblasts Macrophages Reticular fibers (supporting mechanism)

Appearance:
Fresh specimens: depending on the diet Newborns: uniform in shape

White Adipose Tissue

[A] adipocytes [V] vein [S] striated muscle (H&E, x100)

[arrows] nucleus [*] multilocular WAT (PT, x200)

[A] adipocytes [arrows] nuclei (Azure, x200)

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White Adipose Tissue

[A] Adipocytes [L] Lipids (Osmium Tetroxide, x440)

[L] Lipids (Cryostat, Oil Red O, x450)

Lipid storage and mobilization

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White Adipose Tissue

Secretion of Leptins
Satiety factor Regulation of appetite

Deposition is uniform Visceral and subcutaneous adipose differ in gene expression Obesity: increase in adipocytes
Hypertrophic obesity
Increase in size of adipocytes

Brown Adipose Tissue

Multilocular adipocytes Numerous mitochondria
Faster metabolism of lipid droplets Non-shivering heat production (Thermogenesis)

Very limited in distribution

Infants Hibernating animals (hibernating gland)

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Brown Adipose Tissue

Mechanism of BAT