Abstract
Summary: In a previous study of children in the first 2 years of life in which all cells in adipose tissue were examined, we found numbers of small cells which do not contain the extensive intracellular triglyceride deposits characteristic of the mature fat cell. Similar cells have also been detected in fetal subcutaneous tissue. It seems important to establish whether the cells of fetal subcutaneous origin are adipocyte precursors. Isolated adipose cells and homogenates of isolated cells can be expected to show hormone-sensitive lipase activity. This paper reports studies on the lipolytic activity of fetal subcutaneous tissue cells. Fetal subcutaneous tissue, obtained after therapeutic abortion, was dissected from the abdominal wall. To provide a substrate for lipolytic activity in fetal tissue where little intracellular triglyceride is present, triolein as glycerol trioleate was added to the incubations. Additions of either heparin or epinephrine were made at timed intervals. Levels of cAMP were determined in homogenates of tissue after epinephrine stimulation without added triglycéride. Accumulation of tissue triglyceride starts at 16–17 weeks and increases through the ages studied. After the addition of epinephrine (10−4 M) there is substantial release of free fatty acid (FFA) with all tissue homogenates. The addition of epinephrine to the preparation in which no exogenous triglyceride substrate had been added, was associated with a rise in cAMP. Glycerol release was also detected at this time. A dose relationship for cAMP production after epinephrine is present at each age studied. Changing levels in cAMP in fetal tissue with epinephrine suggests an activity similar to the mature adipose cell membrane. These findings do not necessarily indicate an in vivo process occurring at this period of development but rather show a functional ability of the cell. When considering this potential in a cell taken from a site where adult subcutaneous adipose deposition occurs, the definition of an adipose cell should not rely entirely on the presence of accumulated triglyceride.
Speculation: The recognition of fetal tissue with the lipolytic characteristics of mature fat tissue suggests that in fetal life, this tissue may be responsive to changes in the fetal environment. The nutritional and hormonal environment of the fetus may thus influence the development of adipose stores.
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Dunlop, M., Court, J. Studies on Developing Adipose Tissue: Lipolytic Activity in Human Fetal Subcutaneous Tissue as an Indication of Adipose Potential. Pediatr Res 12, 279–282 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804000-00006
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804000-00006
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