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Differentiation and Imaging of Brown Adipocytes from the Stromal Vascular Fraction of Interscapular Adipose Tissue from Newborn Mice
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Differentiation and Imaging of Brown Adipocytes from the Stromal Vascular Fraction of Interscapular Adipose Tissue from Newborn Mice

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Distribution of adipose tissue in the newborn

Tracey A M Harrington1, Elizabeth Louise Thomas, Gary Frost

  • 1Division of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, 369 Fulham Rd., London SW10 9NH, UK.

Pediatric Research
|December 19, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Infants with intrauterine growth restriction have less subcutaneous adipose tissue, but similar intra-abdominal adipose tissue, compared to appropriate-for-gestational-age infants. This suggests different regulatory control of fat depots during development.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal development
  • Adipose tissue biology
  • Metabolic health

Background:

  • Regional adipose tissue distribution impacts adipocyte metabolism and obesity risks.
  • Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) increases later-life obesity-related morbidity risk.
  • Limited data exists on infant adipose tissue quantity and distribution during early development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare total and regional adipose tissue content in newborn infants.
  • To differentiate between appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) and growth-restricted (GR) infants.
  • To investigate early-life adipose tissue differences in relation to intrauterine growth.

Main Methods:

  • Whole body adipose tissue magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed shortly after birth.
  • Quantification of total and regional adipose tissue depots.
  • Comparison of adipose tissue content between GR and AGA infant groups.

Main Results:

  • Growth-restricted (GR) infants had significantly lower total percentage adipose tissue than appropriate-for-gestational-age (AGA) infants (17.70% vs. 23.40%).
  • This difference was driven by reduced subcutaneous adipose tissue mass in GR infants (16.13% vs. 21.44%).
  • Intra-abdominal adipose tissue mass was not significantly different between GR and AGA infants (0.42% vs. 0.61%).

Conclusions:

  • Infants with intrauterine growth restriction exhibit reduced subcutaneous adipose tissue mass.
  • Intra-abdominal adipose tissue is not reduced in infants with intrauterine growth restriction.
  • Subcutaneous and intra-abdominal adipose tissue compartments may be differentially regulated during intrauterine development.

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