Abstract
Publisher Summary The cellular composition of adipose tissue is highly variable and is shown to be dependent on anatomical site, species, and a host of environmental factors. Recent studies also demonstrate that adipocytes perform essential physiological functions in addition to triglyceride storage. An eventual description of the full physiological role of adipose tissue in man and animals is equally dependent on both biochemical and anatomical research. This chapter highlights some new perspectives in adipose tissue anatomy. The relationship between adipose tissue cellularity and human obesity has been extensively reviewed, which shows that early-onset obesity is associated with increased cell numbers, whereas only cell hypertrophy is associated with adult-onset obesity. Typically the stromal-vascular cells consist of macrophages, fibroblasts, pericytes, and various types of blood cells. Electron microscopic studies on cells that develop into adipocytes describe a wide variety of cellular ultrastructures. In some species, such as dog, man, mouse, and rat, mast cells are a normal component of adipose tissue that are deployed along the blood vessels. The full range of cells common to mature red bone marrow have been located in immature and mature white adipose tissue. The capillaries and primitive blood cells are formed in a process of blood island formation.
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