A new surgical technique for perfusion of the epididymal fat pad in situ in rats.
We developed a new surgical technique for preparing the epididymal fat pad in rats for perfusion that maintains continuous blood flow. Epididymal fat pads can be perfused in situ using donor blood from either fed or fasted (24 h) animals. During the course of all perfusions, arterial and venous blood pH and gases were monitored and recorded. Total fatty acid (TFA) uptake and release by the epididymal fat depot was measured for the control and treatment perfusions; glycerol release was measured in all control perfusions. After addition of 14C-glucose to the donor-blood perfusate, all radioactivity appeared in the fat pad effluent blood; none appeared in the host systemic blood, and this finding indicated that the epididymal fat pad was separated from the host vasculature during perfusion in situ. The results presented here demonstrate excellent tissue function and metabolism, as a result of the perfusion technique. Our new surgical method for in vivo investigation of the epididymal fat pad, an important white adipose tissue, likely will have many applications in the study of lipid transport and metabolism, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and cancer cachexia.
Dauchy
Robert T
RT
Bassett Research Institute, Cooperstown, New York 13326-1394, USA.
Blask
David E
DE
Sauer
Leonard A
LA
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D004822:Epididymis / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D010477:Perfusion / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods*