Muscle and adipose tissue biopsy in older adults with type 2 diabetes

We describe a method for obtaining skeletal muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue in a single percutaneous needle biopsy procedure. Biopsies were performed in a double-blind randomized, sham-exercise controlled clinical trial of power training in 103 older adults with type 2 diabetes. In total 110 biopsies (73.3%) were performed in the first 50 participants at 3 time points. Muscle samples were obtained in 102/110 biopsies (92.7%); adipose samples were obtained in 72/110 biopsies (65.5%); both tissue types were obtained in 65/110 biopsies (59.1%). The average weight of muscle samples was 131±92 mg and the median weight of adipose samples was 51 mg (range 3 to 412 mg). No adverse effects of biopsies were reported other than mild transient pain or light-headedness. This is one of the first reports of both adipose and muscle tissue obtained during the same biopsy, and the first to describe in detail sampling technique, yield and safety.