A method for lipid droplet isolation from human placenta for further analyses in clinical trials

We describe a method to isolate lipids droplets from human placental tissue for future lipid analyses. We collected placentas at term from healthy women (n=5) and tested three methods published for lipids droplets isolation in other tissues. Only one of the methods, when modified, isolated lipids droplets from placental tissue, whereas all three methods allowed lipids droplets isolation from rat liver (control tissue) and separation of lipids droplets from blood contamination of the tissue. The placental lipids droplets layer was characterized by the presence of adipophilin while no N+ /K+-ATPase as plasma membrane contamination was detected. Intraplacental triglyceride content showed a high coefficient of variation (~42%), whereas for cholesterol and phospholipids this was lower. One method was effective for isolation of placental lipids droplets. It is necessary to collect a pool of placental tissue pieces for placental lipids droplets analyses. Freezing in liquid nitrogen is recommended.