Journal article

Publication year: 2016

Pages: 2461-2468

Journal: Endocrinology

Volume number: 157

Issue number: 6

ISSN: 0013-7227

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2015-1966

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Abstract: 
Obesity has recently been linked with reduced fertility, and the mechanisms underpinning this effect are currently unknown. The adipokine leptin is dysregulated in obesity and affects reproductive tracts; therefore, we investigated the dose-dependent effects of leptin on Leydig cell function and spermatogenesis. Eight-week-old leptin-deficient obese (ob/ob) male mice were treated with subphysiological (0.1-or 0.5-mg/kg body weight [BW]/d) or physiological (3.0-mg/kg BW/d) doses of leptin or saline for 12 weeks (chronic treatment) or 72 hours (acute treatment). We then evaluated male reproductive function markers. Mean testis weight increased significantly in the 0.1- and 3.0-mg/kg BW/d groups compared with saline controls (both P<.05). Intratesticular testosterone levels relative to testis weight significantly increased in the 0.5-mg/kg BW/d group compared with saline controls (P<.05). FSH levels increased in a dose-dependent manner with leptin treatment, whereas LH levels did not change. Leptin treatment significantly up-regulated both mRNA and protein expression of the steroidogenic enzyme cytochrome P450 17A1. Spermatogenesis improved in leptin-treated animals. Significantly more seminiferous tubules were observed in stages I-VIII (P<.01), and there were fewer abnormal seminiferous tubule structures (P<.01). Acute treatment with physiological leptin doses partially improved male reproductive markers without changing BW. Administration of subphysiological to physiological doses of leptin improves Leydig cell function and spermatogenesis.

Harvard Citation style: Hoffmann, A., Manjowk, G., Wagner, I., Klöting, N., Ebert, T., Jessnitzer, B., et al. (2016) Leptin Within the Subphysiological to Physiological Range Dose Dependently Improves Male Reproductive Function in an Obesity Mouse Model, Endocrinology, 157(6), pp. 2461-2468. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2015-1966

APA Citation style: Hoffmann, A., Manjowk, G., Wagner, I., Klöting, N., Ebert, T., Jessnitzer, B., Lössner, U., Stukenborg, J., Blüher, M., Stumvoll, M., Söder, O., Svechnikov, K., Fasshauer, M., & Kralisch, S. (2016). Leptin Within the Subphysiological to Physiological Range Dose Dependently Improves Male Reproductive Function in an Obesity Mouse Model. Endocrinology. 157(6), 2461-2468. https://doi.org/10.1210/en.2015-1966