Reversible De-differentiation of Mature White Adipocytes into Preadipocyte-like Precursors during Lactation (Cell Metabolism)

Adipocytes in the mammary gland disappear during lactation. Wang et al. show that these mammary adipocytes fully de-differentiate into preadipocytes during lactation and readily re-differentiate during involution. The same adipocytes are therefore `recycled` over multiple rounds of pregnancies. De-differentiation constitutes a new possible fate for terminally differentiated adipocytes.