Anatomy books

Friday, September 8, 2017

Summary of adipose tissue: special connective tissue

Adipose tissue
It is a specialized connective tissue which is composed of fat cells, reticular fibres and rich vascular supply.
In men of normal weight, adipose tissue represents 15-20% of the body weight;
in women of normal weight, it represents 20-25% of body weight.
 Adipose tissue is a very efficient storage tissue. It is in a state of continuous turnover and is sensitive to both nervous and hormonal stimuli.
 The sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system richly innervates both uni-locular and multi-locular adipose tissues. In uni-locular adipose tissue, nerve endings are found only in the walls of blood vessels; the adipocytes are not directly innervated. Release of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine activates the hormone-sensitive lipase described above. This innervation plays an important role in the mobilization of fats.

Types:  
1.      White (unilocular) and
2.      Beige adipocyte
3.      Brown (multilocular).

White adipocyte :

These types of adipocytes are predominantly found in adult. White adipocytes are spherical, but they may appear polyhedral or oval when crowded together. It contains unilocular fat which store triglyceride, flatten nucleus, rim of cytoplasm. Adipocyte looks like signet ring so it also known as signet ring cell.  Early lipoblasts look like fibroblasts but develop small lipid inclusions and a thin external lamina.
Unilocular adipocytes are large cells, sometimes 100 µm or more in diameter. The lipid mass in the adipocyte is not membrane bounded. It thin cytoplasmic rim contain a Golgi complex, few poorly developed mitochondria, poorly developed cisternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, and free polyribosomes,  the lipid droplet contains cisternae of smooth endoplasmic reticulum and numerous pinocytotic vesicles. Each adipose cell is surrounded by a basal lamina.

Innervation: Few sympathetic nerve fibers
Secretions:  White adipose tissue produces a variety of hormones, growth factors, and cytokines.
ASP(Acylation-stimulating protein ) Influences the rate of triglyceride synthesis in adipose tissue
Insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) : Stimulates proliferation of a wide variety of cells and mediates many of the effects of growth hormone
Leptin Regulates appetite and body energy expenditure
Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1):  Inhibits the fibrinolytic system
Elevated levels are associated with increased formation of blood clots
Prostaglandins I2 F2_, (PGI2 and PGF2_) Helps regulate inflammation, blood clotting, ovulation, menstruation,and acid secretion
Resistin:  Increases insulin resistance ,Linked to obesity and to type 2 diabetes
Distribution: subcutaneous tissue, breast, greater omentum, mesenteries, visceral pericardium, orbital cavity, retroperitoneal space, bone marrow
Metabolism:

It hydrolyzes the stored lipids into fatty acids and glycerol, which are released from the cell.

 Functions of white adipose tissue include
1.      metabolic energy storage,
2.      insulation,
3.      cushioning of vital organs, and
4.      secretion of hormones,
5.       Source of metabolic water.  
6.       Subcutaneous layers of adipose tissue help to shape the surface of the body, whereas deposits in the form of pads act as shock absorbers, chiefly in the soles and palms.


 Beige adipocytes:  Beige fat” is a new kind of energy-burning cell that prevent obesity and help weight loss for adults.
Distribution:  This new fat cell is found underneath the skin along the spine and in the proximal area of the collarbone in deposits resembling the size of a pea.
Microscopic features: Like brown fat, beige fat cells also have a plentiful amount of mitochondria and iron, giving them their darker color.
Function:
Prevent obesity
Increase insulin receptor sensivity
How this cell is formed? :
These beige fat cells are converted from white fat cells while exercising when muscles release a hormone called irisin.
Brown adipocyte :
Brown adipose tissue is present in humans during fetal life but diminishes during the first decade after birth. Brown adipose tissue makes up about 5% of the total body mass.

Microscopic features: Multilocular adipose tissue contains numerous fat droplets. Brown (multilocular) adipocytes are smaller in diameter (10–25 µm) than those of white adipose tissue.
Multilocular, spherical, round eccentric nucleus. The multilocular adipocyte contains numerous mitochondria, a small Golgi apparatus, and only small amounts of rER and sER. The mitochondria contain large amounts of cytochrome oxidase, which imparts the brown color to the cells.
Function: Brown adipose tissue is present in large amounts in the newborn, which  prevent  the extensive heat loss by heat production (thermogenesis) that results from the newborn’s high surface-to-mass ratio and avoid lethal hypothermia (a major risk of death for premature babies).
Distribution : It is located on the back, along the upper half of the spine, and toward the shoulders. In adult it is gradually decreases. At first decade of life it is situated in the cervical, axillary, paravertebral, mediastinal, sternal,and abdominal regions of the body.
It then disappears from most sites except for regions around the kidney, adrenal glands, large vessels (i.e., aorta), and regions of the neck (deep cervical and supraclavicular), regions of the back (interscapular and paravertebral), and thorax (mediastinum).
Metabolism: brown fat contain numerous mitochondria which are capable of uncoupling proton leakage and instead of producing adenosine triphosphate (ATP), they release heat, thus arousing the animal from hibernation.

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