Extracellular matrix production by mouse 3T3-F442A cells during adipose differentiation in culture

When cultured 3T3-F442A cells undergo adipose differentiation, they produce extracellular matrix (ECM) that is not present in undifferentiated cells. This ECM stains strongly with ruthenium red, tannic acid and with Alcian blue at both pH 1 and 2.5, showing histochemical characteristics similar to sulphated and non-sulphated glycosaminoglycans. Under the electron microscope, ECM was observed bound to the cell surface and in the intercellular space; it was composed of fibrils of several thicknesses with attached granules and fibrous long-spacing forms of collagen. In addition, adipocytes were observed as rounded cells interconnected with the ECM fibrils, thus giving rise to fat cell clusters similar to the adipocyte lobules found in adipose tissue. Since fat cell clusters in culture emerge by clonal expansion of one adipose precursor cell, we suggest that this ECM can keep daughter adipocytes interconnected during differentiation. ECM production by adipocytes might have some significance for the formation of fat cell lobules in vivo.