An Approach to Monitor Exocytosis in White Adipocytes

Exocytosis, the fusion of vesicles with the plasma membrane, can be measured with the patch-clamp technique as increases in membrane capacitance. Here we provide detailed information on how to monitor white adipocyte exocytosis using this method. We describe how to isolate the stromal vascular fraction of cells (SVF) within adipose tissue and how to differentiate SVF and cultured 3T3-L1 cells into adipocytes suitable for patch-clamp studies. We also give detailed protocols of how to record and analyze exocytosis in the differentiated cells.