OBJECTIVETo study the morphological changes of mature adipocytes in hypoxic condition in vitro and investigate the effect of hypoxia on dedifferentiation of mature adipocytes.

METHODSHuman adipose tissue was collected from individuals undergoing liposuction procedures, from which the stem cells were isolated and induced to become mature adipocytes. After cell culture in hypoxic condition, the adipocytes were observed for morphological changes at different time points.

RESULTSAfter a few days of culture in hypoxic condition, the mature adipocytes derived from the adipose tissue-derived stem cells underwent morphological changes from spherical cells into fibroblast-like cells capable of continuous cell division.

CONCLUSIONMature adipocytes may dedifferentiate into fibroblast-like cells under appropriate conditions.