fatty degeneration

fatty degeneration

n.

The accumulation of fat globules within the cells of an organ, such as the liver or heart, resulting in deterioration of tissue and diminished functioning of the affected organ. Also called adipose degeneration, steatosis.

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fatty degeneration

Etymology: AS, faett + L, degenerare, to deviate

the abnormal deposition of fat within cells or the invasion of organs by fatty tissue. Also called adipose degeneration.

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degeneration

deterioration; change from a higher to a lower form, especially change of tissue to a lower or less functionally active form. When there is chemical change of the tissue itself it is true degeneration; when the change consists in the deposit of abnormal matter in the tissues, it is infiltration. See also wallerian degeneration, Zenker's necrosis.

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albuminoid degeneration

cloudy swelling, an early stage of degenerative change characterized by swollen, parboiled-appearing tissues which revert to normal when the cause is removed.

ballooning degeneration

swelling of the cytoplasm in epidermal cells without vacuolization, enlarged or condensed nuclei and acantholysis. A characteristic of viral infections of the skin. Called also koilocytosis.

caseous degeneration

caseation (2).

colloid degeneration

degeneration with conversion of the tissues into a gelatinous or gumlike material.

cystic degeneration

degeneration with formation of cysts.

fatty degeneration

deposit of fat globules in a tissue.

feathery degeneration

said of hepatocytes; a hydropic change in hepatocytes which have suffered long-term exposure to cholestasis.

fibrinoid degeneration

deposition or replacement with eosinophilic fibrillar or granular substance resembling fibrin.

fibroid degeneration

degeneration into fibrous tissue.

hyaline degeneration

a regressive change in cells in which the cytoplasm takes on a homogeneous, glassy appearance; also used loosely to describe the histological appearance of tissues. Called also hyalinosis.

hydropic degeneration

see hydropic degeneration.

macular degeneration

degenerative changes in the macula retinae.

mucoid degeneration

degeneration with increased mucin which can be epithelial or mesenchymal in origin.

mucous degeneration

degeneration with accumulation of mucus in epithelial tissues. Called also myxomatous degeneration.

myxomatous degeneration

see mucous degeneration (above).

reticular degeneration

extreme intracellular edema of epidermal cells, resulting in rupture and multilocular intraepidermal vesicles with septae formed by the remaining cell walls. Seen in acute inflammatory dermatoses.

spongy degeneration

on microscopic examination has the physical appearance of a sponge. Usually applied to tissue of the central nervous system, caused by the loss of myelin.

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fatty

pertaining to or characterized by fat. See also adipose.

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fatty acids

organic compounds of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen that are esterified with glycerol to form fat. All fats are esters of fatty acids and glycerol, the fatty acids accounting for 90% of the molecule of most natural fats. A fatty acid consists of a long chain of carbon atoms with a carboxylic acid group at one end. Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds in the carbon chain. The medium and long chain fatty acids are solid at room temperature and are the components of the common animal fats, such as butter and lard. Unsaturated fatty acids contain one or more double bonds. The unsaturated fatty acids are liquid at room temperature and are found in oils such as olive oil and linseed oil. Polyunsaturated fatty acids have two or more double bonds.

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) including acetic, butyric and propionic acids are produced in large quantities in the rumen by the fermentative digestion of cellulose. Much of the energy consumption of ruminants comes from these VFAs in the situation in which other animals use glucose. See also 3-omega fatty acid (below).

fatty acid nutritional deficiency

a secondary deficiency occurs in pigs on high-calcium diets. This may have a connection with parakeratosis of pigs caused by zinc deficiency and calcium excess in the diet. Requirements for dietary fat in dogs and cats are usually expressed as the essential linoleic acid and arachidonic acid.

fatty acid synthase

in bacteria, a multiprotein complex; in mammals, a single multifunctional protein important in the synthesis of palmitate as a major source of fatty acids.

fatty acyl CoA

generic term for long hydrocarbon chains, generally between C12 and C20, linked via thioester to coenzyme A.

fatty acyl CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase

enzyme (ACAT) catalyzing the transfer of fatty acyl group to cholesterol, irreversible physiologically. Its action regulates the number of LDL receptors by converting excess cholesterol (which inhibits LDL receptors) to cholesterol esters.

branched chain fatty acids

fatty acids usually containing a methyl branch; lowers the melting point compared with the equivalent straight chain fatty acid.

fatty casts

see urinary cast.

fatty degeneration

deposit of fat globules in a tissue.

essential fatty acids (EFA)

essential fatty acids.

fatty liver

accumulation of fat in a liver beyond the level which is normally encountered may be a result of a normal physiological response to increased peripheral lipolysis, obesity or the action of hepatotoxins.

fatty liver disease

see fat cow syndrome.

fatty liver syndrome

1. a disease of laying birds housed in battery cages. The cause is unknown. Affected birds are significantly heavier, there is a fall in egg production and they die acutely of liver rupture. The liver is greasy, mushy in consistency and yellow in color.

2. a severe fatty accumulation in the liver and hypertriglyceridemia that may develop in obese cats that are anorexic. There is jaundice, weight loss, neurological signs and a high mortality. Called also idiopathic feline hepatic lipidosis.

omega-3 (n-3) fatty acids

include α-linolenic acid, eicosapentanoic acid, docosahexanoic acid. High concentrations found in cold water marine (fish) oils.

omega-6 (n-6) fatty acids

found in terrestrial plants, including safflower oil, corn oil and evening primrose oil, which is a rich source of linoleic and arachidonic acids.

fatty tissue

connective tissue made of fat cells in a meshwork of areolar tissue.