The Adipocyte and Obesity

Abstract: The proceedings of a 1982 international conference covers 33 review articles on research findings and the current state of knowledge of various metabolic and mechanistic aspects of the associations between the adipocyte fat cell and obesity. The articles address various facets of adipose cell growth and development; insulin action; lipid assimilation and lipoprotein and cholesterol metabolism in adipose tissue; lipolysis in adipocytes; and energy expenditure. The role of adipose tissue as a model system for the study of mechanisms of insulin action is highlighted by evidence of new cellular mediators. Recent insights in triglyceride assimilation regulation by lipoprotein lipase and fatty acid release through the lipolytic cascade are discussed. Other topics include the role of lipocytes in cholesterol turnover, the relationship of cholesterol metabolism to lipoprotein turnover and catabolism, and aspects of energy balance and thermoregulation in obesity. (wz).