The adipocyte volume in human adipose tissue: 1. Lipid space, normal and maximum values, and the relation to body...

The volume of isolated adipocytes in specimens from the subcutis of the abdomen was measured using the pulse counter technique. The lipid content was determined as esterified fatty acids.

(1). Adipocyte enlargement is mainly caused by lipid deposition, despite a slight increase in the lipid free volume. (2). Two cell populations were detected in some cases, with the smaller fraction having a volume between 0.024 and 0.129 nl, which is lower than the common range for human adipocytes. (3). An analysis of large numbers of cells in single specimens revealed the lognormal type to fit the volume distribution better than the normal type. (4). Standard deviations of the lognormal distributions decrease with the mean cell volumes. Calculation by extrapolation shows the maximum adipocyte volume is of the order of 1 nl. (5). Normal curves of the adipocyte volume vs body weight index were set up for 142 test persons. They approach maximum volumes and differ with sex. (6). The normal adipocyte volume is ideal weight persons without metabolic disease is in the order of 0.3 nl.