Lipid accumulation cells derived from porcine aorta and grown under anaerobic conditions

Fibroblast-like cells, derived from porcine aorta, were cultured under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Light and electron microscopic examinations, lipid composition measurements, and incorporation of radioactive precursors into lipids of these cells were performed. Anaerobically grown cells accumulated oil red O stainable droplets and within 6 hr the triacylglycerol content increased to 4 times the level determined in cells grown under aerobic conditions. This ratio remained constant throughout an additional 12 hr of growth. The fatty acid composition of the triacylglycerols which accumulated under anaerobic conditions differed from the composition of fatty acids in the triacylglycerols present in the growth medium. The cellular unesterified fatty acids of the anaerobically grown cells differed only slightly in composition from the fatty acids in the growth medium, while the unesterfied fatty acids of aerobically grown cells differed to a greater extent from those of the growth medium.