Which cells store triglycerides and produce hormones and growth factors?

• A. Fibroblasts
• B. Adipocytes
• C. Macrophages
• D. Lymphocytes

Answer: (B)

Adipocytes are specialized for both storing energy and signaling. They store triglycerides in large lipid droplets, serving as the body's main energy reservoir. They also function as endocrine cells, releasing hormones and growth factors (adipokines) such as leptin and adiponectin that regulate appetite, metabolism, and insulin sensitivity, along with other signaling molecules that influence tissue growth and inflammation. In contrast, fibroblasts mainly produce and maintain the extracellular matrix, not triglyceride storage. Macrophages are immune cells that secrete inflammatory mediators, and lymphocytes are immune cells involved in adaptive immunity; neither are principal triglyceride storage cells nor primary hormone producers.