title: Androgens and adipose tissue in males: a complex and reciprocal interplay.
abstract: Clinical evidence shows that in males obesity is frequently associated with hypogonadism and vice versa; also, low testosterone levels have been considered a "hallmark" of metabolic syndrome in men. These observations indicate that there is a strict connection between anatomically and functionally distinct cell types such as white adipocytes and Leydig cells, that synthesize testosterone. Adipose tissue is able to control several functions of the testis through its products secreted in the bloodstream. On the other hand, circulating levels of testosterone and estradiol deeply affect adipocyte proliferation, differentiation, and fat mass distribution, hereby controlling critical metabolic functions, such as food intake, insulin sensitivity, vascular reactivity, and immunity. This paper highlights the existing clinical and experimental evidence linking androgens and adipose tissue and illustrates the consequences occurring when the balance between fat mass distribution and eugonadism is lost.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Clinical and Basic Research, Department of Medical Sciences, IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, 235 00163 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mammi
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Calanchini
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antelmi
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cinti
authors.forename: Giuseppe M C
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Rosano
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Caprio
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabbri