Abstract
The determinants of human adipose tissue mass are not yet elucidated. In order to characterize the role of genetic factors, total fat cell number was measured in 12 sets of identical and 6 sets of fraternal twins, ages 1 to 16, and one set of 10 year old identical female triplets. 8 of 10 sets of normal weight identical twins were concordant for total adipose cell number, current weight and height and birthweight while the other two sets of identical twins had significantly dissimilar birthweights and total cell numbers. In these latter children, cell number was lower in the twin with the smaller birthweight. In addition, the triplets were identical for all the parameters measured. Three seta of identical obese twins with similar birthweights all displayed significant and concordant adipose tissue hypercellularity for age. Differences in the degree of their adiposity were reflected primarily by alterations in fat cell size. The 6 sets of fraternal pairs had both similar and disparate fat cell numbers independent of their current weights and birthweights.
The data indicate an important genetic component in the development of the adipose tissue depot in man with in utero factors modulating the final outcome.
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Ginsberg-Fellner, F., Davis, A., Bergman, G. et al. GENETIC FACTORS IN THE DETERMINATION OF HUMAN ADIPOSE TISSUE MASS. Pediatr Res 11, 435 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00395
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00395