Microscopy methods to study fat cells. Part 1: Characterisation of ovine cutaneous lipids using microscopy

Microscopy has been employed to study cutaneous lipids. In particular, light microscopy in conjunction with histochemical labelling techniques and confocal microscopy have been used to determine the chemical basis of the lipid moieties and provide qualitative information regarding the extent to which lipids are deposited within the skin substrate. Furthermore a range of electron microscopy techniques, including a novel cryo-scanning electron microscopy technique, have been used to resolve the structure of the fat cell substrate. Due to inter and intra skin variation, there are difficulties associated with using intact skin as a model for studying adipocytes. Subcutaneous adipose tissue was therefore utilized for studying the morphology of component adipocytes using microscopy.