Comparative studies on the physiology of adipose tissue.

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter presents comparative studies on the physiology of adipose tissue. The adipose tissues of the other species studied differ from that of the lean rat or mouse in these respects : (1) the form in which stored triglyceride fatty acids are mobilized, (2) the nature of the principal extracellular carbohydrate that is metabolized by the fat cell, (3) the capacity to convert glucose to glyceride fatty acids, (4) the responsiveness to the glucose-transport effect of insulin, (5) responsiveness to the antilipolytic action of insulin, and (6) responsiveness to the various naturally occurring lipolytic agents. The notable species differences so far revealed by in vitro studies of adipose tissue are that insect adipose tissue differs from avian and mammalian adipose tissues by utilizing and releasing trehalose as the major extracellular carbohydrate, and by mobilizing stored triglyceride fatty acids principally as diglyceride. The adipose tissues of primate and carnivore orders of mammals are highly sensitive to catecholamines but have not yet been adequately studied in other respects. Interpretation of these comparative data is presently limited by the use of in vitro experimental design and heterologous peptide hormones in the majority of the investigations.