Abstract
Cell size is, alongside sex and depot of origin, the key determining factor of adipocyte function. There
is large variation in this parameter between the different compartments of this adipose organ, owing
to differences in cell turn-over, mechanisms of adipose tissue expansion and a plethora of other
physiological causes. The current study aims to assess the differences in size and number between
adipocytes from two of the most metabolically significant body fat depots, the visceral omental
adipose tissue and the abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue. Paired samples of adipose tissue were
obtained from a group of 15 surgical patients (11 women, 4 men) and were subjected to
cytomorphometric analysis. We found that mean adipocyte diameter was significantly larger for
abdominal subcutaneous adipocytes than omental adipocytes (184.9 ± 9.75 μm, compared with
155.96 ± 7.23 μm, respectively; p<0.05) by roughly 15.65%, and that minimum adipocyte diameter
was significantly larger for abdominal subcutaneous adipocytes than omental adipocytes (93.76 ±
8.64 μm, compared with 69.05 ± 5.3 μm, respectively; p<0.05) by roughly 26.35%. No significant
correlations were found for maximum adipocyte diameter (abdominal subcutaneous 272.92 ± 10.24
μm, omental 245.9 ± 13.36 μm; p>0,5) and number of adipocytes per microscopic field (abdominal
subcutaneous 335.33 ± 41.37, omental 432.67 ± 56.09; p>0.5). The results were consistent with
previous findings in scientific literature and with the view that the two compartments play different
metabolic roles and undergo expansion through different mechanisms.
is large variation in this parameter between the different compartments of this adipose organ, owing
to differences in cell turn-over, mechanisms of adipose tissue expansion and a plethora of other
physiological causes. The current study aims to assess the differences in size and number between
adipocytes from two of the most metabolically significant body fat depots, the visceral omental
adipose tissue and the abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue. Paired samples of adipose tissue were
obtained from a group of 15 surgical patients (11 women, 4 men) and were subjected to
cytomorphometric analysis. We found that mean adipocyte diameter was significantly larger for
abdominal subcutaneous adipocytes than omental adipocytes (184.9 ± 9.75 μm, compared with
155.96 ± 7.23 μm, respectively; p<0.05) by roughly 15.65%, and that minimum adipocyte diameter
was significantly larger for abdominal subcutaneous adipocytes than omental adipocytes (93.76 ±
8.64 μm, compared with 69.05 ± 5.3 μm, respectively; p<0.05) by roughly 26.35%. No significant
correlations were found for maximum adipocyte diameter (abdominal subcutaneous 272.92 ± 10.24
μm, omental 245.9 ± 13.36 μm; p>0,5) and number of adipocytes per microscopic field (abdominal
subcutaneous 335.33 ± 41.37, omental 432.67 ± 56.09; p>0.5). The results were consistent with
previous findings in scientific literature and with the view that the two compartments play different
metabolic roles and undergo expansion through different mechanisms.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 212-236 |
| Number of pages | 24 |
| Journal | Proceedings of the Romanian Academy Series B: Chemistry, Life Sciences and Geoscience |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 4 Aug 2011 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- cytomorphometric analysis
- adipocytes
- abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue