Adipocyte

Adipocytes are the cells of the adipose tissue. They are 50 to 150 microns in size and enveloped by lattice fibers (fat cell membrane ). You connect via net-like structures with their neighboring cells, so they can be assigned to the group of reticular cells. Adipocytes develop from Steatoblasten. One distinguishes two basic types of adipocytes, the main component of different types of fat are:

  • Univakuoläre adipocytes ( lipocytes ) have only a vacuole, which is filled with lipids. This vacuole fills the cell from almost all over, so there is little room for cell organelles and the nucleus is marginal and flattened ( signet ring shape of the nucleus ). This cell type is based on the white adipose tissue. The fat cells store not only fat, but also produce leptin, resistin and adiponectin.
  • Save Plurivakuoläre adipocytes, the lipids in several, separate vacuoles, mainly rely on the brown adipose tissue. Compared to the univacuolar adipocytes her cell body is smaller.

A adipocyte can store a maximum of about 1 ug fat.

The number of adipocytes remains constant, regardless of weight and dietary measures in adulthood. About 10% of adipocytes are replaced per year (cell exchange, cell turnover ).

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