Raman mapping glucose metabolism during adipogenesis from human mesenchymal stem cells

Raman mapping was used to determine the distribution of fats inside of adipocytes and human mesenchymal stem cells during adipogenesis. This proved to be a successful way of mapping the lipid distribution within the cells because of the strong C-H stretching bands of the fats inside the lipid droplets. Furthermore using deuterated glucose in the cell culture medium it was possible to distinguish any fats in droplets or in the cytoplasm that were formed before and after adipogenesis was initiated, because those formed after displayed both C-H and C-D stretching bands. The distributions of the initial metabolites of glucose and the resulting fats in the lipid drops could also be mapped in this way.