The Adipose Organ Is a Unitary Structure in Mice and Humans.

Area of Science:

• Anatomy
• Physiology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Obesity is a leading global cause of death, characterized by significant changes in the adipose organ.
• Understanding adipose organ structure and function is vital for developing therapeutic strategies against obesity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the anatomical and functional organization of the adipose organ in mice and humans.
• To determine if adipose tissue (white adipose tissue and brown adipose tissue) constitutes a unified organ.

Main Methods:

• Anatomical dissections
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Computed axial tomography (CAT)
• Histological and immunohistochemical assessments
• Analysis of human and mouse adipose tissues

Main Results:

• Adipose tissues (white adipose tissue and brown adipose tissue) form a large, unitary structure in both mice and humans, meeting organ criteria.
• Gross anatomy analysis in mice revealed the organ's composition of white adipose tissue, brown adipose tissue, and glands under various conditions.
• Human cadaver dissections confirmed the mixed composition and unitary structure of the adipose organ.

Conclusions:

• The adipose organ is a unified structure in mice and humans, comprising white and brown adipose tissues.
• Given its significant endocrine functions, the term 'endocrine adipose organ' is proposed.
• This research provides a foundational understanding for future obesity research and therapeutic development.