Journal of Lipid Research, Vol 24, 223-228, Copyright © 1983 by Lipid Research, Inc.
Adipose tissue cellularity and histochemistry in fetal swine as affected by genetic selection for high or low backfat
GJ Hausman, DR Campion and GB Thomas
Adipose tissue development was studied histochemically and histologically
in fetuses from lean and obese sows. At 110 days of gestation, fetuses were
removed from Ossabaw (obese-feral) sows and from sows selected for high
backfat (obese-domestic) and for low backfat (lean) thickness. Body weights
were similar for lean (916 +/- 225 g) and obese (822 +/- 167 g) domestic
fetuses, whereas obese feral fetuses were smaller (631 +/- 70 g).
Histological and histochemical analysis was conducted on subcutaneous
tissue from over the shoulder. Staining for lipid-containing fat cells
indicated similar concentrations of fat cells throughout the depth of the
subcutaneous tissue from obese (domestic and feral) and lean fetuses.
Adipocytes from obese fetuses were slightly larger (domestic 23 +/- 0.22
microns, feral 21.8 +/- 0.26 microns) than cells from lean fetuses (20.7
+/- 0.42 microns). The percentage glycogen positive (PAS) adipocytes was
low and similar from all three fetal strains. Less than 10% of adipocytes
from lean and obese domestic fetuses were esterase-positive, whereas 42% of
adipocytes from obese feral fetuses were esterase- positive. All adipocytes
from obese fetuses (domestic and feral) were lipoprotein lipase
(LPL)-positive whereas all cells from lean fetuses were negative for LPL
activity. Therefore, cellular and metabolic differences exist in adipose
tissue of lean and obese pigs during the prenatal period of growth and
development.
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