Figure 4

In A,B and C electron microscopy of visceral fat. (A) Visceral fat of a lean control subject. (B) Visceral fat of an obese non-diabetic (ND) patient. Note the different thickness of the cytoplasmic rim, small and rare mitochondria and abundant collagen (enlarged in the inset) in the obese patient. A mast cell is close to the adipocyte of the obese patient. (C) Visceral fat of a T2D patient. The cytoplasm of two degenerating adipocytes is visible. Note the presence of calcium-like crystals in one adipocyte. In D and C electron microscopy of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of two obese patients with type 2 diabetes. (D) Degenerative signs (D) and a close-by macrophage in the interstitium (M). (E) The cytoplasm of two degenerating adipocytes is visible. The lipid droplet (L) and basal membrane (BM) are still distinguishable, but the cytoplasm and organelles are not recognizable and are mixed with a dark material that seems to overlay the basal membrane and occupy the interstitium in the form of irregular dots (D) with the same electrondensity of the degenerating cytoplasm. Overall, the fine morphology is compatible with that of degenerating adipocytes (Cinti S et al.⁶. In F and G electron microscopy of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) of two obese patients with type 2 diabetes post-surgery. (F) The cytoplasmic rim is thicker than pre-surgery (cfr, E) and clusters of mitochondria (m) are visible. BM = basal membrane, COL = collagen fibrils. (G) In this adipocyte (left), signs of stress were present: dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER), cholesterol crystals (C), and thick basal membrane (BM). L = lipid droplets, m = mitochondria, BM = basal membrane, COL = collagen fibrils. 196 × 297 mm (150 × 150 DPI).