Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology
Endocrine Abstracts (2012) 29 S21.1

ICEECE2012 Symposia Obesity and reproduction (3 abstracts)

Integrating hypothalamic regulation of energy homeostasis and reproduction

C. Elias


University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.


Nutrition is a crucial regulatory component of the reproductive physiology. Conditions of negative energy balance or low energy store often causes a disruption of the neuroendocrine reproductive axis and arrest of sexual maturation. On the other hand, excess energy, as observed in obesity, also negatively impacts the reproductive physiology. For example, high adiposity may induce or aggravate polycystic ovarian syndrome, ovulatory dysfunction and hypothalamic amenorrhea. In obese men, fertility is usually decreased due to altered activity of the hypothalamus-pituitary axis and defective steroidogenesis. Thus, changing levels of key metabolic cues constitutes a fundamental signal for the coordinated control of the reproductive physiology. Of particular importance is the adipocyte-derived hormone leptin. In humans and mice, inactivating mutations of the leptin or leptin receptor genes induce hyperphagic obesity, diabetes and infertility. These individuals exhibit low gonadotropins levels, deficient gonadal development and lack of sexual maturation. Leptin replacement to leptin-deficient subjects restores gonadotropins levels and the reproductive function. Leptin may also contribute to the obesity-associated decrease in fertility as the reproductive deficits observed in obese subjects may be in part caused by excess leptin and leptin resistance at the cellular (receptor/signaling) level. In this Symposium, I will discuss the recent advances in the identification of populations of hypothalamic neurons relaying leptin’s action in the integration of metabolism and reproduction. Special attention will be given to glutamatergic neurons located in the ventral premammilary nucleus and kisspeptin neurons of the arcuate nucleus. We will also discuss the use of mouse genetics and Cre/loxP technology to assess the role of specific neuronal populations in the metabolic control of the reproductive function.

Declaration of interest: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research project.

Funding: This work was supported, however funding details are unavailable.

Volume 29

15th International & 14th European Congress of Endocrinology

European Society of Endocrinology 

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