| Abstract: | Autografting of lost soft tissue is an important subject of the plastic and reconstructive surgery and autograft of fat pads
has been only technique for this goal. However, the results are disappointing because of absorption of the grafts with time.
Adipoblasts or adipocyte precursor cells distribute widely in connective tissues and they can proliferate and mature into
adipocytes even in the adult body. In experiments using mice, we found that de novo adipogenesis of endogenous precursor cells
can be induced by injecting reconstituted basement membrane, Matrigel, supplemented with more than 1 ng/ml of bFGF. This adipogenesis
was reproducibly induced by subcutaneous injection over the chest, lateral abdomen or head. Adipogenesis was induced even
in ear cartilage or in muscle. To evaluate the possibility of future application of this de novo adipogenesis to plastic and
reconstructive surgery, we have reviewed updated knowledge of the adipogenesis.
This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
