ADIPOSE TISSUE

Dr. Omar Qooje

MSc. Histology and Embryology
Connective tissue in which adipocytes or
fat cells predominate is commonly called
adipose tissue.
Located throughout the body,
Adipose tissue normally represents 15%-
20% of the body weight in men,
somewhat more in women.
There are two types of adipose tissue:
1. White adipose tissue (common type)
Composed of cells that, contain one very
large droplet of whitish-yellow fat in their
cytoplasm.
2. Brown adipose tissue
Contains cells with multiple lipid droplets
and abundant mitochondria.
WHITE ADIPOSE TISSUE

Specialized for relatively long-term

energy storage.
Each cell is very large, between 50 and
150 μm in diameter, and contains a sin-
gle huge droplet of lipid that fills almost
the entire cell.
White adipocytes are called unilocular
because the triglycerides are stored in this
single large droplet.
White adipose tissue is subdivided into
incomplete lobules by partitions of connective
tissue.
 Almost all adipose tissue in adults is unilocular
and it is found in and around many organs
throughout the body.
The distribution of this tissue changes signi
cantly through childhood and adult life and is
partly regulated by sex hormones, which
control adipose deposition in the breasts and
thighs.
BROWN ADIPOSE TISSUE

Brown adipose tissue constitutes 2% to

5% of the newborn body weight.
Located mainly in the back, neck, and
shoulders, but it is greatly reduced during
childhood and adolescence.
In adults it is found only in areas, around
the kidneys, adrenal glands, aorta, and
mediastinum.
The color of brown adipose tissue or brown
fat is due to both the very abundant
mitochondria (containing cytochrome
pigment) and the large number of blood
capillaries in this tissue.
Adipocytes of this tissue are typically
smaller than those of white fat and contain
primarily many small lipid droplets (they
are multilocular) in cytoplasm containing
many mitochondria and a central nucleus.
The many small lipid droplets, abundant
mitochondria, and rich vasculature all
help mediate this tissue’s principal
function of heat production.
Cells of brown adipose tissue are
polygonal and generally smaller than cells
of white adipose tissue.
The cytoplasm contains a great number of
lipid droplets of various sizes and nuclei
are often centrally located.
Development of white and brown fat cells
Storage & Mobilization of Lipids

Triglycerides are transported by blood

and lymph from the intestine and liver in
lipoprotein complexes known as chylo-
microns (Chylo) and VLDLs.
In the capillary endothelial cells of
adipose tissue, these complexes are partly
broken down by lipoprotein lipase,
releasing free fatty acids and glycerol.
The free fatty acids diffuse from the
capillary into the adipocyte, where they
are re-esterified to glycerol phosphate,
forming triglycerides that are stored in the
lipid droplet until needed.
Thank You