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Related Experiment Videos

Dermal extracellular lipid in birds.

M W Stromberg1, E J Hinsman, R L Hullinger

  • 1Department of Anatomy, School of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana 47907.

Journal of Morphology
|January 1, 1990
PubMed
Summary

Extracellular dermal lipid and intracellular epidermal lipid are abundant in bird skin. This suggests novel pathways for fat distribution and utilization in animals, requiring a reevaluation of current biological concepts.

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Area of Science:

  • Histology
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Comparative Anatomy

Background:

  • Lipid distribution and utilization in animal tissues are crucial for cellular function.
  • Current understanding of avian lipid metabolism is limited, particularly regarding extracellular lipids.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence and ultrastructure of extracellular and intracellular lipids in avian skin.
  • To explore the origin and potential utilization pathways of these lipids in birds.

Main Methods:

  • Light and electron microscopy were employed to examine skin samples from domestic chickens, seagulls, and Antarctic penguins.
  • Ultrastructural analysis focused on the morphology and cellular interactions of dermal and epidermal lipids.

Main Results:

  • Abundant extracellular dermal lipid droplets and intracellular epidermal lipid were observed across all studied bird species.
  • Fibrocytes appeared to interact with and potentially digest extracellular lipid droplets.
  • Lipid droplets were also found within dermal blood and lymph vessels.

Conclusions:

  • Avian skin exhibits a unique and abundant extracellular lipid presence, differing from current models.
  • Free fatty acids likely diffuse from dermal adipocytes to the epidermis, serving as precursors for neutral lipid synthesis.
  • The findings necessitate a reevaluation of fat distribution and metabolic pathways in vertebrates.

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