Abstract: Antigens present in the plasma membrane of mature porcine white adipocytes, which are not present in porcine liver, kidney, spleen, brain, cardiac muscle, skeletal muscle or lung or in porcine erythrocytes, which react with antisera raised against said adipocytes and which on SDS-PAGE give rise to protein bands of relative molecular mass (r.m.m.) about 37, 50, 51 and 121 KiloDaltons, respectively and antibodies thereto are useful for the reduction of fat in pigs.

Abstract: A method of preventing controlling or reducing adiposity in which an animal or human being is treated with an effective amount of an antibody to an adipocyte present respectively in said animal or human being.

Abstract: A method of preventing, controlling or reducing adiposity in which an animal or human subject is treated with an immunogen which is a modified or unmodified antigenic substance obtainable from adipose tissue of an individual of the same species as the subject or of a species which is closely related phylogenetically to the species of the subject or which is a modified or unmodified antiidiotypic antibody or fragment thereof to an antibody raised against said antigenic substance whereby an immune response is elicited in the subject effective to prevent, control or reduce adiposity.