RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ADIPOSE STROMAL-VASCULAR CELLS AND ADIPOCYTES INHUMAN ADIPOSE-TISSUE

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative amounts of RNA and DNA from adipo cytes and adipose stromal-vascular cells to better assess differential gene expression for estrogen receptor and cytochrome P450 aromatase i n the two cell fractions of adipose tissue. STUDY DESIGN: Colorimetric and fluorometric assays were used to measure total RNA and DNA, and t he relative cell numbers as well as the relative contribution of RNA f rom adipocytes and stromal-vascular cells were assessed. RESULTS: Adip ocytes and stromal-vascular cells exist in a ratio of 2/1. RNA/DNA rat ios are the same in the two cell fractions. CONCLUSION: In human subcu taneous adipose tissue, adipocytes are twice as numerous as stromal-va scular cells. The overall transcriptional activity of the cell types a ppears similar.