title: Prepubertal onset of obesity negatively impacts on testicular steroidogenesis in rats.
abstract: Obesity is a global health problem and impacts negatively on levels of testosterone and quality of sperm production. At present little is known about mechanisms that attenuate testicular function in obese males. Our study characterized testicular steroidogenesis and explored levels of relevant paracrine and hormonal factors in rats with short- and long-term obesity. We have found that obesity state increased serum levels of estradiol and leptin in both groups of obese rats and inhibited the expression of StAR and Cyp11a1 associated with low levels of intratesticular testosterone in rats with long-term obesity. Further, long-term obesity reduced the number of Leydig cells, increased the testicular levels of the proinflammatory adipocytokine TNFα and the number of testicular macrophages. All together, our data indicate that long-term obesity may cause chronic inflammation in the testis and negatively impacts on Leydig cell steroidogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Women and Child Health, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, 17171 Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Pediatric Research Leipzig, University Hospital for Children & Adolescents, Department of Women's and Child Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB Adiposity Diseases), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: I V
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB Adiposity Diseases), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Klöting
authors.affiliation: Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum, Sofia 1113, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Atanassova
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Women and Child Health, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, 17171 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Savchuk
authors.affiliation: Integrated Research and Treatment Center (IFB Adiposity Diseases), University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spröte
authors.affiliation: Center for Pediatric Research Leipzig, University Hospital for Children & Adolescents, Department of Women's and Child Health, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kiess
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Women and Child Health, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, 17171 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Söder
authors.affiliation: Karolinska Institutet, Department of Women and Child Health, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit, 17171 Stockholm, Sweden. Electronic address: konstantin.svechnikov@ki.se.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Svechnikov
mesh_terms: D017667:Adipocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D048429:Cell Size; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D009929:Organ Size; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012741:Sexual Maturation; D013256:Steroids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D020738:Leptin; D013256:Steroids; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D004958:Estradiol
keywords: Obesity; Sex hormones; TNFα; Testicular steroidogenesis