Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 15, 2026

Author Spotlight: Analysis of Fluorescent-Stained Lipid Droplets with 3D Reconstruction for Hepatic Steatosis Assessment
Published on: June 2, 2023
Hepatic lipid droplet biology: Getting to the root of fatty liver
Douglas G Mashek1, Salmaan A Khan1, Aishwarya Sathyanarayan1
1Department of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN.
Abstract:
Hepatic steatosis is defined by the accumulation of lipid droplets (LDs). Once thought to be only inert energy storage depots, LDs are increasingly recognized as organelles that have important functions in hepatocytes beyond lipid storage. The lipid and protein composition of LDs is highly dynamic and influences their intrinsic metabolism and signaling properties, which ultimately links them to the changes in hepatic function. This concise review highlights recent discoveries in LD biology and unique aspects of hepatic LDs and their role in liver disease.
Related Concept Videos
Liver Physiology
Metabolic Regulation:
The liver is the central organ involved in regulating blood composition. It stabilizes blood glucose levels, maintaining them within the range of 70–110 mg/dL. When these levels drop, the liver breaks down glycogen reserves and releases glucose into the bloodstream. It can...
Overview of Lipid Metabolism
Lipolysis: The Breakdown of Lipids:
Lipolysis is the process of breaking down lipids, particularly triglycerides, into glycerol and fatty acids. This process typically occurs in the adipose tissue and is triggered by various hormones, including glucagon and...
Liver Histology
Hepatocytes perform a variety of essential functions. They secrete...
Lipid Absorption
These breakdown products bind with bile salts and lecithin to form micelles, which quickly pass between microvilli to come in close contact with the apical...
Overview of Fatty Acid Metabolism
Fatty acids are catabolized in a process called beta-oxidation, which takes place in the matrix of the mitochondria and converts their fatty acid chains into two-carbon units of acetyl groups. The acetyl...
Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation
Considering cholesterol and...

