Leptin

Aromatase

Biology

Testosterone (patch)

Endocrinology

Hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis

Hypothalamus

Endocrine system

Insulin resistance

Luteinizing hormone

Internal medicine

Hormone

Medicine

Obesity

Androgen

Breast cancer

Adipose tissue

Cancer

Diabetes mellitus

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Obesity is a chronic illness associated with several metabolic derangements and comorbidities (i.e., insulin resistance, leptin resistance, diabetes, etc.) and often leads to impaired testicular function and male subfertility. Several mechanisms may indeed negatively affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal health, such as higher testosterone conversion to estradiol by aromatase activity in the adipose tissue, increased ROS production, and the release of several endocrine molecules affecting the hypothalamus-pituitary-testis axis by both direct and indirect mechanisms. In addition, androgen deficiency could further accelerate adipose tissue expansion and therefore exacerbate obesity, which in turn enhances hypogonadism, thus inducing a vicious cycle. Based on these considerations, we propose an overview on the relationship of adipose tissue dysfunction and male hypogonadism, highlighting the main biological pathways involved and the current therapeutic options to counteract this condition.

Adipose Tissue Dysfunction and Obesity-Related Male Hypogonadism