A microslide presents a tissue with spherical cells, each of them containing a large fat drop covered with thin cytoplasm layer in its center. Nucleus is compressed and situated at the cell periphery. What tissue is it?

Answer options

1. Brown adipose tissue
2. Mucous tissue
3. Reticular tissue
4. Pigmented tissue
5. White adipose tissue

Explanation

We know it is adipose, now let us differentiate. In white adipose tissue, the cells accumulate fat in the cytoplasm, small “droplets” of fat grow into a single large droplet. This pushes the remaining cytoplasm and the nucleus to one corner of the cell. During the preparation of H & E slides the fat is dissolved and the cell appears empty, with a very thin rim of cytoplasm and the nucleus along the edge. This appearance is described as a “signet ring” appearance. (If you have a historical or biblical movie you may have seen how the ring of a king carries his seal which can be “impressed” on writing material by punching it!).Brown fat cells, on the other hand, contain multiple droplets of fat that do not push the nucleus to one side. The nucleus remains in the center and the multiple droplets give an appearance of tiny soap bubbles or sponges within the cell.