Chapter 6: Adipose Tissue

10/16/2016

fat cells / adipocytes predominate in connective tissue

isolated/ in small groups within (loose/dense) irregular connective tissue
fat/adipose tissue = large aggregates of these cells
insoluble in water
concentrate triglycerides as lipid droplets
metabolically active
respond to nervous and hormonal stimuli
release hormones
15-20% of bodyweight in men, more in women
storage depots for neutral fats
o triglycerides
o long-chain fatty acyl esters of glycerol
function: key regulators of bodys over-all energy metabolism
most efficient form of nutrient storage
o caloric density of triglycerides: 9.3kcal/g = twice that of proteins and
carbohydrates ..and glycogen
an endocrine tissue/organ
conducts heat poorly and helps thermally insulate the body
fills up spaces between other tissues
cushion and keeps some organs in place
pad-like deposits: shock absorbers

two types (both rich in blood supply)

o White adipose tissue
their cells (when completely developed) have 1 large droplet of whitish
yellow fat in their cytoplasm
o Brown adipose tissue
cells with multiple lipid droplets interspersed among abundant
mitochondria
darker appearance of cells

WHITE ADIPOSE TISSUE

long-term energy storage

adipocytes are
o spherical when isolated
o polyhedral when closely packed
o 50-150 um in diameter
o contains a single huge droplet of lipid that fills almost the entire cell
unilocular (white adipocytes)
o triglycerides are stored in this single large droplet
o empty in light microscopes
single large droplet is seen
lipid is removed from cells by xylene/other solvents in histological
techniques
o signet-ring appearance
lipid droplet displacing and flattening the nucleus against the cell
membrane

o cytoplasm
surrounds nucleus
mitochondria
small golgi body
few cisternae of RER
free polyribosomes
submembranous layer surrounding lipid droplet
cisternae of SER
pinocytotic vesicles
o most adipocytes contain minute droplets in addition to single large droplet
o lipid droplet-cytoplasm interface
reinforced by intermediate filaments of vimentin
o surrounded by thin external lamina with type IV collagen
o is subdivided into incomplete lobules by partitions of connective tissue
o reticular fibers
form fine interwoven network
supports individual fat cells and binds them together
o microvasculature not always apparent in tissue sections
o almost all adipose tissue is unilocular
distribution of this tissue changes from child-aldulthood
o regulated by sex hormones
control adipose deposition in breasts and thighs
secretes numerous other cytokines and other factors with paracrine and autocrine
activity

lipomas
liposarcomas
hibernomas

Medical Application
benign tumors generated by unilocular adipocytes
malignant adipose tumors
fetal lipomas of brown fat

STORAGE & MOBILIZATION OF LIPIDS

Triglycerides
o derived from dietary fats => brought to adipocytes as circulating
chylomicrons
transported by blood and lymph from triglycerides synthesized in
the liver and intestine
transported
as very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs)

by local synthesis of free fatty acids and glycerol from glucose

Chylomicrons
o small particles of variable size (up to 1200 nm)
o formed in intestinal epithelial cells
o transported in blood plasma and lymph
o consist of a central core
mainly triglycerides and a small quantity of cholesterol esters
cholesterol
phospholipids
surrounded by apolipoproteins (stabilizing monolayer)
lipoproteins
complexes of lipids and proteins
smaller than chylomicrons
higher levels of lipoproteins, cholesterol and phospholipids (in surface
layer)
measured in clinical tests for blood lipids
varying levels of surface apolipoprotein
o allow categorization accdg to density (VDL to HDL)
lipoprotein lipase
hydrolyze chylomicrons and VLDL at luminal surfaces of blood capillaries
enzyme synthesized by the adipocyte => transferred to capillary cell
membrane

free fatty acids

enter adipocyte by active transport and diffusion
combine with glycerol phosphate, supplied by glucose metabolism => to
form triglycerides => deposited in liquid droplet
mitochondria and SER participate in liquid uptake and storage

insulin
accelerates synthesis of adipocytes (of fatty acids from glucose)
stimulates uptake of glucose into adipocytes
increase synthesis of lipoprotein tissue
inhibits hormone sensitive lipase => reduce fatty acid release
stimulates enzymes for lipid synthesis
adipocytes when stimulated by nerves/hormones
stored lipids are mobilized
fatty acids and glycerol are released into the blood
Norepinephrine
released by postganglionic sympathetic nerves
activates hormone-sensitive lipase

o breaks down triglycerides at the surface of the stored lipid droplets

free fatty acids diffuse across membrane of adipocyte and capillary endothelium =>
bind the carrier protein albumin in blood for transport throughout the body
the more water-soluble glycerol
remains free
taken up by the liver
glucagon and growth hormone promote
triglyceride breakdown
release of fatty acids
leptin
sole source: adipocytes
16 kDa polypeptide hormone
satiety factor with target cell in hypothalamus and other organs.
help regulate appetite
regulate formation of new addition of new adipose tissue
visceral adipose tissue
increased: raises risk diabetes and cardiovascular disease
release fat products directly to the portal circulation and liver (may meduically
influence this form of obesity

starvation: unilocular adipocytes lost nearly all their fat and become polyhedral or
spindle shaped with small lipid droplets.

HISTOGENESIS OF WHITE ADIPOSE TISSUE

adipocytes differentiate from embryonic mesenchymal cells

preadipocytes
fibroblasts
lipid accumulation at first are isolated from one another then they fuse to for
the single large groplet (unilocular)

obesity
state of chronic mild inflammation
proinflammatory factors from visceral are being investigated for links to
inflammation related disorders associated with obesity
o diabetes
o heart disease
excessive formation od adipose tissue
energy exceeds expenditure
o hypertrophic obesity
adult-onset
increases size of existing adipocytes
reduced activity of hormone-sensitive lipase => less effective fat
mobilization
o hyperplastic obesity
increase in both adipocyte size and numbers
differentiation of more preadipocytes from mesenchymal stem cells
any intake of calories lower than engery expenditure will result in loss of adipose
tissue

BROWN ADIPOSE TISSUE

2-5% of newborn body weight

located mainly: back, neck and shoulders
greatly reduced in childhood and adolescence

in adults
o found in scattered areas
o kidneys, adrenal glands, aorta and mediastinum
brown fat/ brown color
o due to abundant mitochondria (cytochrome pigment)
mediate
o large number of capillaries
heat
multilocular
production
o their adipocytes contain many small lipid inclusions
their adipoctyes:
o polygonal cells
o smaller than white adipose tissue
o cytoplasm has many lipid droplets
o nuclei: centrally located
o closely packed around large capillaries
o receive direct sympathetic innervation
subdivided by partitions of connective tissue into lobules (better delineated than
lobules of white adipose tissue)

FUNCTION OF BROWN ADIPOCYTES

main function: produce heat by nonshivering thermogenesis

heat production increased:
o mitochondria have thermogin or uncoupling protein (UCP-1)
o thermogin: prermits backflow of protons without passing through ATPsynthetase
energy generated by proton flow dissipates as heat

HISTOGENESIS OF BROWN ADIPOSE TISSUE

develops from embryonic mesenchyme

develops as growing preadipocytes
emerges earlier than white fat during fetal development
in adults: amount and acitivity of brown fat are higher in lean individuals
no. of brown adipocytes increase during cold adaptation in adults
o appear as clusters of multilocular cells in white adipose tissue =>
represent proliferation and differentiation of new adipocytes from preexisting progenitor cells
o autonomic nerves
promote brown adipocyte differentiation
prevent apoptosis in brown fat cells