Glucose transport in adipose tissue

Based on the well-known extraction equation and the histology of subcutaneous adipose tissue, transport of glucose from capillary to microdialysis probe is described. Results are evaluated of previous studies by our group and others. Arguments are presented for a simple scheme in which the mean capillary concentration of a solute (i.e. glucose) is the driving force for diffusion of glucose from capillary to a microdialysis probe. Insertion effects can be explained by a lower glucose concentration around the probe due to an inflammation reaction (12–18 h) and by a slow increase in the number of functioning capillaries around the probe due to wound healing (4–6 days).