Characterization of mouse pericardial fat: regulation by PAPP-A.

ABSTRACT: Although implicated in cardiovascular disease, little is known about the fat surrounding the heart. In humans, epicardial fat is the visceral fat depot of the heart, which directly contacts the myocardium. This strategically placed fat depot is thought to produce bioactive molecules that could affect cardiac function. A major limitation in understanding the biology of epicardial fat is its restricted access in humans and its seeming absence in commonly-used experimental animal models. Although laboratory mice do not have epicardial fat per se, they do have a fat depot around the heart. In this study, we found that mouse pericardial fat has the molecular signature, small adipocyte size, and resistance to differentiation consistent with visceral fat. In addition, we show that mouse pericardi

SUBMITTER: Bale LK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6249060 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct - Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature