ON EPITHELIO-RETICULAR FAT ORGANS - INVESTIGATION OF GONADAL FAT BODIES IN AMPHIBIA

The testicular fat bodies of amphibians living under different conditions of nutrition, have been investigated with the light- and electronmicroscopes. Among others, the following results have been obtained: 1. The adipose tissue in organs rich in lipids consists of abundantly ramified cells, each containing a large fat globule. The individual elements of this reticulum are not surrounded by a basal lamina. 2. In fat organs containing almost no lipid, many of the adipose cells assume a rounded to polygonal shape and in places resemble epithelial tissue. 3. The testicular fat bodies are permeated by sinusoid capillaries, the walls of which are lined by endothelial cells and processes of adjacent fat cells. 4. In order to underline the difference between the tissue described and the white and brown adipose tissue, it is suggested to name the specific tissue of the gonadal fat bodies epithelio-reticular adipose tissue". 5. Unmyelinated nerve fibres occur in the vicinity of the blood vessels of these fat bodies. It remains undecided whether nerve terminals come into direct contact with individual adipose or endothelial cells. © 1969 Springer-Verlag."