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Application of Imaging and Other Noninvasive Techniques in Determining Adipose Tissue Mass

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Adipose Tissue Protocols

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology™ ((MIMB,volume 456))

Summary

In vivo adipose tissue quantification is an important tool to characterize phenotypes of obesity, especially in the human. The amount and distribution of adipose tissue is associated with many of the adverse consequences of obesity. Recent studies suggest that adipose tissue is not a single homogeneous compartment. Regional adipose tissue depots vary in biological functions and individual adipose tissue compartments have stronger associations with metabolic conditions than does total adipose tissue mass. Currently there is intense and increasing interest in regional adipose tissue compartments. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging often are used to quantify adipose tissue volumes or cross-sectional adipose tissue areas. Other modalities, including dual-energy absorpti-ometry and magnetic resonance spectroscopy, provide whole-body or regional fat measures instead of adipose tissue mass quantification.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Obesity Research Center, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital and Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, USA

    Wei Shen

  2. Image Reading Lab, Obesity Research Center, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital and Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, USA

    Jun Chen

Authors
  1. Wei Shen
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  2. Jun Chen
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

    Kaiping Yang

Appendix

Appendix

3.1.1 Adipose Tissue Quantification With MRI and CT in Animals

The principles for human and animal AT acquisitions and analyses are the same. Animals such as primates, rabbits, dogs, guinea pigs, and rats can be scanned by human scanners (31). Smaller coil may be used to facilitate signal detection and reduce scanning time of MRI. To acquire adequate resolution in a reasonable scanning time, small rodents (i.e., mice) are scanned by high magnetic field scanners (i.e., 7–9 Tesla MRI scanner) (32). Animals are anesthetized before being scanned. The procedures of image analysis of animals are primarily the same as that of humans except for animal anatomy training.

3.1.2 MRS Methods

Proton MRS methods quantify fat content in a defined volume but are not usually used for AT mass quantification. MRS methods are mostly used to quantify liver and skeletal muscle fat content (i.e., intramyocellular lipid) in both human and animal studies (33). MRS spectroscopy can also provide estimates of tissue free fatty acid composition (34). Most clinical scanners either have MRS sequences installed or have the option to install a MRS package.

Quantitative magnetic resonance (QMR) method quantifies whole body fat, and both animal and human QMR instruments are different from MRI scanners. QMR method does not provide images and therefore cannot provide regional AT distribution information. The advantage of QMR method is that the instrument requires only simple maintenance and no anesthesia is required for animal studies (35).

3.1.3 DEXA Measurement of Fat Content

DEXA estimates masses of whole body and regional fat rather than AT. The regional fat estimation includes arms, legs and trunk etc, but DEXA cannot differentiate visceral fat from subcutaneous fat or intermuscular fat. DEXA instruments have human and animal models and the mostly used brands are GE Lunar and Hologic. DEXA machines utilize X-ray of two different energy levels and body composition is calculated by the attenuation of the X-rays having passed through tissues (36). The amount of radiation exposure of DEXA is very small and usually not a concern, except in pregnant women. The analysis of DEXA scan can only be done with the software packages provided by the same manufacturer.

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© 2008 Humana Press, a part of Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Shen, W., Chen, J. (2008). Application of Imaging and Other Noninvasive Techniques in Determining Adipose Tissue Mass. In: Yang, K. (eds) Adipose Tissue Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology™, vol 456. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-245-8_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59745-245-8_3

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-916-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-245-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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