Abstract
3T3-L1 cell line is a well-established and commonly utilized in vitro model to assess adipocyte differentiation. Cell migration of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes was investigated using Dunn chemotaxis assay glass chamber system. Preadipocytes adhered to the surface of the glass and migrated randomly even in the normal Krebs Ringer bicarbonate-hepes solution (pH7.4). When the cells were placed in a concentration gradient of ATP for 60 min at 37°C, migration towards the source of ATP (chemotaxis) was observed with the maximal migration of 80 μm. In contrast, fully differentiated mature adipocytes tightly adhered to the extracellular matrix and appeared to be almost immobilized during the incubation. These results indicate that the extracellular ATP or other possible ligands can act as a chemoattractant for preadipocytes, but not for mature adipocytes. We next tried to use a piece of isolated mouse mesenterium as an extracellular matrix to examine whether chemotaxis activity of preadipocyte was observed on the surface of mouse tissue. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes well adhered to the mesenterium within 60 min and migrated on the membrane. These observations suggest the possibility that preadipocytes translocate their body to the different place from their origin in vitro. [J Physiol Sci. 2008;58 Suppl:S202]
