title: The role of overweight and glucose tolerance in the impaired pituitary-gonadal axis of obese males.
abstract: In a group of 30 obese male patients (160.2% of ideal body weight), an impaired function of the pituitary-gonadal axis has been demonstrated. Decreased testosterone and increased estradiol basal levels, increased LH and FHS responsiveness to gonadotropin-releasing hormone, and increased basal prolactin (PRL) levels are the most significant findings. The overweight factor seems to account for the documented decreased testosterone and increased estrogen levels through a modulation of peripheral steroid metabolism. These peripheral steroid patterns might affect gonadotropin and PRL secretions as well; nevertheless an interference with the metabolism of cerebral neurotransmitters, perhaps related to a nutritional component (impaired glucose tolerance), cannot be completely excluded.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D004970:Estrone / Q000097:blood; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D013737:Testis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D004970:Estrone; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D011388:Prolactin