Effects of diet and environment on adipocyte development.

Induction of adipocyte hyperplasia in the rat is dependent on factors such as hormones, circulating metabolic substrates, fat cell size, and qualitative aspects of the cells in a given depot. Analysis of the specific factors which promote hyperplasia under the different circumstances of diet and environment are discussed and may help towards an understanding of the hyperplastic process in man which may eventually lead to the possibility of intervention.