A micro-method for determination of fatty acid (FIAT) and glucose (GLIAT) incorporation and lipolysis in vitro in needle biopsies of human adipose tissue.

A method for determination of fatty acid (FIAT) and glucose (GLIAT) incorporation into adipose tissue in vitro in needle biopsy specimens of human fat has been developed. 20-150 mg of subcutaneous fat is incubated in an albumin buffer containing a physiological spectrum and concentration of fatty acids and glucose. Release of glycerol and fatty acids to the incubation medium and incorporation of labelled palmitic acid and labelled glucose into extracted adipose tissue lipids are determined simultaneously. The labelled fatty acids are found in the fatty acid part and the labelled glucose only in the glycerol part of extracted diglycerides and triglycerides. These glycerides are completely recovered and indicated FIAT and GLIAT values. Methodological errors for all vaiables are about 10%. All processes increase linearly with tissue weight and incubation time. FIAT and GLIAT increase linearly with increasing concentration of a physiological spectrum of fatty acids (=constant fractional incorporation). The method is simple, and several analyses from one subject can be performed on one day with a minimum of discomfort to the patient.