title: Androgens, body fat Distribution and Adipogenesis.
abstract: Androgens are regulators of important adipocyte functions such as adipogenesis, lipid storage, and lipolysis. Through depot-specific impact on the cells of each fat compartment, androgens could modulate body fat distribution patterns in humans. Testosterone and dihydrotestosterone have been shown to inhibit the differentiation of preadipocytes to lipid-storing adipocytes in several models including primary cultures of human adipocytes from both men and women. Androgen effects have also been observed on some markers of lipid metabolism such as LPL activity, fatty acid uptake, and lipolysis. Possible depot-specific and sex-specific effects have been observed in some but not all models. Transformation of androgen precursors to active androgens or their inactivation by enzymes that are expressed and functional in adipose tissue may contribute to modulate the local availability of active hormones. These phenomena, along with putative depot-specific interactions with glucocorticoids may contribute to human body fat distribution patterns.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Nephrology, CHU de Quebec Research Center, 2705 Laurier Blvd. R-4779, Quebec City, PQ, Canada, G1V 4G2.|Department of Nutrition, Laval University, Québec City, Canada, G1V 4G2.
authors.forename: Mouna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zerradi
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Nephrology, CHU de Quebec Research Center, 2705 Laurier Blvd. R-4779, Quebec City, PQ, Canada, G1V 4G2.|Department of Nutrition, Laval University, Québec City, Canada, G1V 4G2.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dereumetz
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Nephrology, CHU de Quebec Research Center, 2705 Laurier Blvd. R-4779, Quebec City, PQ, Canada, G1V 4G2.|Department of Nutrition, Laval University, Québec City, Canada, G1V 4G2.
authors.forename: Marie-Michèle
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Boulet
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Nephrology, CHU de Quebec Research Center, 2705 Laurier Blvd. R-4779, Quebec City, PQ, Canada, G1V 4G2. andre.tchernof@crchul.ulaval.ca.|Department of Nutrition, Laval University, Québec City, Canada, G1V 4G2. andre.tchernof@crchul.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tchernof
keywords: Adipose tissue; Androgen; DHT; PCOS; Testosterone