Relative growth rates of various fat depot in Sprague Dawley rats

Seven major internal and subcutaneous fat depots were dissected from male Sprague Dawley rats at various weights from 150 g to 500 g. Tissue growth rates relative to body weight were calculated. With the exception of the dorsoscapular fat depot, the growth coefficients for all fat depots were as expected, greater than 1, indicative of later developing tissues. The order of development from earliest to latest, based on increasing growth coefficients, was dorsocapsular, mesenteric, axillary, buttock, epididymal, inguinal and perirenal. This differs from other species where the perineal depot is one of the earliest developing tissues.