White adipose tissue (WAT), which is characterized by adipocytes containing large unilocular lipid droplets, is an active endocrine organ that regulates diverse activities, such as insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism and satiety.
In rodents, WAT develops mainly after birth, being present first in the perigonadal and subcutaneous depots, and only later in the omental depot. In humans, WAT development begins early in the second trimester of gestation and by birth is well developed in both the visceral and subcutaneous depots.
EMBRYONIC DEVELOPMENT & STEM CELL COMPENDIUM
