In Toto Adipocytes Analysis Using Hydrophilic Tissue Clearing, Light Sheet Microscopy, and Deep Learning-Based Image Processing

This study aims to develop and implement an innovative method for 3D investigation of AT to assess adipocyte volume, overcoming the limitations and biases inherent in traditional techniques. The principle of the method relies on fluorescent labeling of lipids and extracellular matrix (ECM) in toto within AT, followed by a tissue clearing step without delipidation and imaging using 3D light sheet microscopy coupled with automated analysis of adipocyte size through a deep learning approach. By this work we showed that the volume of adipocytes increased in mesenteric AT from obese rats with an increase in the distance between adipocytes.