FATTY-ACID METABOLISM BY HUMAN ADIPOSE TISSUES*

Abstract

The composition and metabolic activity of human omental and subcutaneous adipose tissues were compared. There were no significant differences in N, free fatty acid and neutral fat content which amounted respectively to 3.20-3.95mg/g, 0.150-0.160% and 70.6-66.5% for subcutaneous and omental tissues. The 2 tissues differed markedly in their metabolic activity. The in vitro uptake of palmitate 1-C14 was much higher in omental than in subcutaneous tissue. A considerably higher percentage of the palmitate 1-C14 taken up was esterified by the omental than by the subcutaneous tissue. Synthesis of long chain fatty acids was 10 to 20 times greater in omental than in subcutaneous adipose tissue when tested with acetate 1-C14 and about 2 times greater with glucose-C14. Free fatty acid release was low in both types of tissue.