Size and lipolytic capacity of bovine adipocytes from subcutaneous and internal adipose tissue

Adipose tissue samples were taken from five dairy cows in early lactation. Various external and internal sites were chosen, and after isolation of the adipocytes, their size and lipolytic capacity were measured. It was found that cells from all the sites showed high lipolytic activity, although there was a four-fold difference between cells from perirenal fat and those from omental fat, which showed the highest activity. It was not possible to detect any relationship between diameter and lipolytic capacity of the adipocytes.