Epicardial fat cell size, fat distribution and fat infiltration of the right and left ventricle of the heart.

An investigation was carried out on the hearts of 34 autopsied adults to determine fat cell size, fat distribution and fat infiltration at 10 defined points over the right and left ventricular wall. The data found were correlated with the body weight and the fat cell size of other regions of fatty tissue. The size of the fat cells at the defined sampling points over the right and left ventricular wall showed no statistically significant difference overall. On the other hand, in one and the same person statistically significant differences in epicardial fat cell size could nevertheless exist depending on the localisation. A positive correlation existed between body weight on the one hand, and on the other hand, fat cell size, epicardial fatty tissue height, and fat infiltration of the right ventricle. With increasing body weight the size of the fat cells of the other regions of fatty tissue investigated, especially of the abdominal skin, omentum majus and mesenteric root, augmented to a greater extent than that of the epicardial fat cells.