Lower Total Adipocyte Number but No Evidence for Small Adipocyte Depletion in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract Objectives: We hypothesized that compared to obese, patients with type 2 diabetes have lower total adipocyte number with less small adipocytes. Research design and methods: Abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue was obtained from lean and obese with or without type 2 diabetes matched for BMI. Adipocyte size was measured by osmium fixation and sizing/counting in a Coulter counter. Adipocyte size and number sub-distributions [small, medium, large and very-large] were determined. Results: Compared to obese, type 2 diabetes patients had greater mean adipocyte size and 67% bigger very-large adipocytes; total adipocyte number was lower, but the fraction of small adipocytes was increased by 27%. Conclusions: Total adipocyte cellularity is lower in type 2 diabetes vs. obese. We found no evidence for depletion of small adipocytes in patients with type 2 diabetes. This suggests the presence of a defect in early maturation of adipocytes in patients with type 2 diabetes.