WHITE ADIPOCYTES IN PRIMARY CULTURE - LONG-TERM MICROCALORIMETRIC AND BIOCHEMICAL INVESTIGATIONS

A novel method was developed to facilitate long-term microcalorimetric and biochemical studies in white fat cells. Isolated rat adipocytes were primary cultured in a 3D-matrix of agar gel. Thermogenesis was measured continuously over 72 h by using an LKB BioActivity Monitor. Glucose and lactate concentrations were determined in the medium of parallel cultures every 24 h. Glucose consumption and lactate production rates were constant over 72 h whether employing aerobic (0.50 and 0.44 pmol/cell*h, respectively) or partial anaerobic culture conditions (0.41 and 0.57 pmol/cell*h, respectively). Aerobic (94 pW/cell) and partial anaerobic thermogenesis (39 pW/cell) were maintained during 72 h. Addition of isoproterenol (10(-5)M) increased aerobic heat production by 48%.