[Sex hormones and metabolic function].
The biological actions of testosterone(T) and estrogens(E) are mediated via androgen receptor(AR) and estrogen receptor(ER), respectively. Testosterone also exerts its effect by conversion to estrogens by aromatase in peripheral tissues. Recently, from the detailed analysis of the phenotype of human or mouse mutant of AR, ER and aromatase, T-AR, E-ERs are protective against metabolic syndrome(MetS) and diabetes mellitus(DM). Both sex steroids are suggested to potentiate leptin signaling as a central mechanism and to suppress lipid synthesis and promote lipolysis as peripheral mechanism. Thus, the insufficiency of the amount or action of these sex steroids causes obesity and insulin resistance. Age-associated decrease of sex steroids is an important background for the onset of visceral obesity and life-related diseases.
Toshihiko
T
Yanase
Makito
M
Tanabe
Takashi
T
Nomiyama
D000818:Animals; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000378:metabolism; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
D004967:Estrogens; D012739:Gonadal Steroid Hormones