Adipose tissue

The adipose tissue is important for whole body metabolic processes and the storage of energy as fat. Except for storing fat and providing insulation, it is also recognized as an endocrine organ as it produces hormones e.g. leptin, estrogen and cytokine. Two kinds of adipose tissue is found in the human body: white adipose tissue and brown adipose tissue.

The fat can be found throughout the body and surrounds most organs and tissue. Microscopically adipose tissue is mainly composed of lobules of adipocytes surrounded by thin bands of collagen and small blood vessels. The cytoplasm of the adipocyte is compressed at the perimeter of the cell as it is displaced by a single lipid vacuole and only a thin rim of cell membrane is evident in the microscopic image. Adipocytes contain a small, thin and oval nucleus located peripheral to the dominating lipid vacuole, whereas nuclei of capillary endothelial cells are present at intersections between multiple adipocytes.

Normal adipose tissue

Section of a normal adipose tissue, stained with hematoxylin and eosin for contrast.

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Adipose tissue

The main cell type in adipose tissue are adipocytes, also known as fat cells, which is a way of storing energy. Other associated components include blood vessels, peripheral nerves and connective tissue fibroblasts.