In the past decade, adipose tissue has emerged as a dynamic organ, producing a
wide spectrum of adipokines (e.g., hormones, growth factors, cytokines) and playing
an important role in the pathogenesis of obesity and its associated metabolic
disorders. Consequently, research into the biology and pathophysiology of adipose
tissue has attained an unparalleled stature. Since the publication of the first edition
of Adipose Tissue Protocols, the field has grown enormously, and the techniques
and experimental approaches used have undergone radical expansion and revision,
warranting a new edition of this text. The second edition combines updates of a
selection of chapters from the first edition, with a large number of new contributions
covering both conventional and state-of-the-art methodologies, as well as
whole animal, cellular, and molecular approaches that have emerged or been
extended to adipose tissue research during the past few years