Abstract
Testosterone has long been known to affect body fat distribution, although the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. We investigated the effects of chronic hypogonadism in men on adipose tissue fatty acid (FA) storage and FA storage factors. Twelve men with chronic hypogonadism and 13 control men matched for age and body composition: 1) underwent measures of body composition with dual energy x-ray absorptiometry and an abdominal CT scan; 2) consumed an experimental meal containing [3H]triolein to determine the fate of meal FA (biopsy-measured adipose storage vs. oxidation); 3) received infusions of [U-13C]palmitate and [1-14C]palmitate to measure rates of direct free (F)FA storage (adipose biopsies). Adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase, acyl-CoA synthetase (ACS), and diacylglycerol acetyl-transferase (DGAT) activities, as well as, CD36 content were measured to understand the mechanism by which alterations in fat storage occur in response to testosterone deficiency. Results of the study showed that hypogonadal men stored a greater proportion of both dietary FA and FFA in lower body subcutaneous fat than did eugonadal men (both p<0.05). Femoral adipose tissue ACS activity was significantly greater in hypogonadal than eugonadal men, whereas CD36 and DGAT were not different between the two groups. The relationships between these proteins and FA storage varied somewhat between the two groups. We conclude that chronic effects of testosterone deficiency has effects on leg adipose tissue ACS activity which may relate to greater lower body FA storage. These results provide further insight into the role of androgens in body fat distribution and adipose tissue metabolism in humans.
Highlights
The role of testosterone in the sexual dimorphism of body composition is most obvious in conditions of changing or abnormal testosterone levels in males
In this study we investigated the effects of chronic testosterone deficiency on fatty acid (FA) metabolism by comparing a group of hypogonadal men to a group of eugonadal men
Because fed lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity is a predictor of fractional, regional meal FA storage [33] in young, lean healthy men and women, we examined whether fed LPL activity correlated with the proportion of meal fat stored in upper and lower body subcutaneous depots in this population
Summary
The role of testosterone in the sexual dimorphism of body composition is most obvious in conditions of changing or abnormal testosterone levels in males. Men with chronic testosterone deficiency, such as Klinefelter’s syndrome or male eunuchs, have a more feminine/gynoid pattern fat distribution [2,3]. Testosterone administration to men over 65 years old with somewhat low serum testosterone concentrations decreased fat mass principally in the arms and legs [4]. How testosterone affects body fat patterning is of interest because an upper body fat distribution in obese individuals increases disease risk relative to those with a predominantly lower body fat distribution. The mechanism by which testosterone causes fat to be stored preferentially in some depots is presently unknown. In this study we investigated the effects of chronic testosterone deficiency on fatty acid (FA) metabolism by comparing a group of hypogonadal men to a group of eugonadal men
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