The effect of obesity on testicular function by insulin-like factor 3, inhibin B, and leptin concentrations in obese adolescents according to pubertal stages.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of obesity on testicular function by evaluating reproductive hormones, inhibinB, insulin-like 3(INSL3), and leptin, in obese and non-obese adolescents according to pubertal Tanner stages.


METHODS
Eighty adolescent boys were grouped (n=20) as; Group1: obese-Tanner2, Group2: non-obese-Tanner2, Group3: obese-Tanner4, Group4: non-obese-Tanner4. Serum INSL3, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, total testosterone, free testosterone, estradiol, sex hormone binding globulin, inhibin B and leptin levels were assessed in all groups.


RESULTS
INSL3 levels were significantly lower in obese adolescents compared to non-obese boys (p=0.003, Tanner2) and (p=0.031, Tanner4). There was a negative correlation between INSL3 and leptin (r=-0.468, p=0.001). The negative correlation between INSL3 and BMISDS indicates that pubertal obesity leads to Leydig cell impairment.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated for the first time in the literature that obesity effects testicular Leydig cell function starting from Tanner stage 2.
Taneli
Fatma
F
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Celal Bayar University, Faculty of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey. fatmataneli@superonline.com
Ersoy
Betul
B
Ozhan
Bayram
B
Calkan
Mehmet
M
Yılmaz
Omer
O
Dinç
Gönül
G
Genç
Abdulkadir
A
Taneli
Can
C
D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011506:Proteins; D011627:Puberty / Q000097:blood*; D013737:Testis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; C084797:Leydig insulin-like protein; D011506:Proteins; C422364:inhibin B; D013739:Testosterone; D007265:Inhibins; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone