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Histomorphology, adipocyte size and total fat cell number in the interscapular brown adipose tissue of pregnant and lactating rats

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Proceedings: Animal Sciences

Abstract

Interscapular brown adipose tissue was studied in pregnant and lactating females and compared with virgin females in inbred Wistar rats, using the histomorphology and quantitation of cell numbers. In pregnant females an increase in the interscapular brown adipose tissue weight, total fat content and total fat cell numbers associated with a decrease in adipocyte diameter was observed when compared with virgin females. The total lipid content and total fat cell number in the interscapular brown adipose tissue of lactating females showed a decrease when compared to the pregnant females. This suggests that pregnancy and lactation are accompanied by changes in the status of interscapular brown adipose tissue which may be related to the changes in energy metabolism in these physiological states.

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Dechamma, P.A., Kamath, S. & Shetty, P.S. Histomorphology, adipocyte size and total fat cell number in the interscapular brown adipose tissue of pregnant and lactating rats. Proc. Indian Acad. Sci. (Anim. Sci.) 95, 45–50 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03179356

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03179356

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