Chapter 6:

 Adipocytes specialize in concentrating triglycerides as lipid droplets.

 Adipocytes are very active cells metabolically, responding to both, nervous and hormonal
stimuli.
 It is recognized as an endocrine tissue (releases hormones)
 Thermally insulate the body and helps cushion other cells.
 2 major groups of adipose tissue:
o White adipose tissue
o Brown adipose tissue

 White adipose tissue:

o Long-term energy storage
o Contains single large droplet of lipid that fills almost the entire cell
o They are called unilocular because triglyceride is stored as 1 droplet.
o Surrounded by external lamina of type 4 collagen
o Chylomicrons are brought to adipocytes first, then stored as triglycerides
o Chylomicrons are transported as VLDL and they are synthesized in intestinal epithelial
cells and transported in blood plasma and lymph.
o Lipoprotein lipase hydrolyzes VLDL and chylomicrons and then free fatty acids enter the
adipocyte by active transport and diffusion.
o The free fatty acids bund to glycerol phosphate in cell to form triglycerides which
become lipid droplet.
o Mitochondria and SER participate actively in the process of lipid uptake and storage.
o Synthesis of adipocytes is accelerated by insulin which stimulates the uptake of glucose
into adipocytes and increases the synthesis of lipoprotein lipase.
o Norepinephrine (released by postganglionic sympathetic nerves in adipose tissues)
activates hormone sensitive lipase
 This lipase breaks down triglycerides at the surface of the stored lipid droplets.
 Insulin inhibits hormone sensitive lipase
o White adipose tissue functions as important endocrine gland
 They produce hormone leptin (satiety factor) with target cells in the
hypothalamus and other organs
 Leptin regulates appetite and participates in formation of new adipose
tissues.
o Histogenesis of white adipose tissue:
 Differentiate from embryonic mesenchymal cells (like fiber-producing cells)
 Starts off as preadipocytes
 Appearance of fibroblasts but accumulate lipid droplets in the
cytoplasm
 Multilocular: had many small lipid droplets
 Unilocular: has one big lipid droplet
 Mesenchymal
cells

Fibroblasts Preadipocyte

Differentiating
Adipocyte

Multilocular Unilocular
adipicyte adipocyte

 Excess formation of adipose tissue (obesity) happens when energy intake exceeds energy
expenditure.

 Brown adipose tissue:

o Constitutes 2 -5% of the newborn body weight.
o It is brown due to :
 Abundant mitochondria (contains cytochrome pigment)
 Large number of blood capillaries in this tissue
o They are multilocular: contain many small lipid inclusions.
o Helps in heat production.
o Smaller than white tissues
o Often packed around large capillaries
o Receive direct sympathetic innervation
o Functions of brown adipocytes:
 Thermogenesis:
 Production of heat without shivering
 Activate hormone-sensitive lipase of adipocytes  promoting hydrolysis of
triglycerides to fatty acids and glycerol.
 Thermogenin or uncoupling protein:
 Transmembrane proteins found in the inner membrane of
mitochondria that increase heat production.
 Permits of backflow of protons previously transported to the
intermembranous space without passing through the ATP-synthase
complexes
o Histogenesis:
 Also develops from embryonic mesenchyme
 Same as white adipocyte tissue
o They increase in cold adaptations in adults.