Cited by 110Gut microbiota and healthRegulation of Appetite and ObesityAdipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases

Castration influences intestinal microflora and induces abdominal obesity in high-fat diet-fed mice

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Harada, Naoki, Hanaoka, Ryo, Horiuchi, Hiroko, Kitakaze, Tomoya, Mitani, Takakazu, Inui, Hiroshi, Yamaji, Ryoichi·2016·Scientific Reports

Abstract

Late-onset hypogonadism (i.e. androgen deficiency) raises the risk for abdominal obesity in men. The mechanism for this obesity is unclear. Here, we demonstrated that hypogonadism after castration caused abdominal obesity in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed, but not in standard diet (SD)-fed, C57BL/6J mice. Furthermore, the phenotype was not induced in mice treated with antibiotics that disrupt the intestinal microflora. In HFD-fed mice, castration increased feed efficiency and decreased fecal weight per food intake. Castration also induced in an increase of visceral fat mass only in the absence of antibiotics in HFD-fed mice, whereas subcutaneous fat mass was increased by castration irrespective of antibiotics. Castration reduced the expression in the mesenteric fat of both adipose triglyceride lipase and hormone-sensitive lipase in HFD-fed mice, which was not observed in the presence of antibiotics. Castration decreased thigh muscle (i.e. quadriceps and hamstrings) mass, elevated fasting blood glucose levels and increased liver triglyceride levels in a HFD-dependent manner, whereas these changes were not observed in castrated mice treated with antibiotics. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and Lactobacillus species increased in the feces of HFD-fed castrated mice. These results show that androgen (e.g. testosterone) deficiency can alter the intestinal microbiome and induce abdominal obesity in a diet-dependent manner.

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  • In mice, the microbiota can regulate testicular development and function, and androgen deficiency substantially alters the microbiome.

    “In mice, the microbiota can regulate testicular development and function [251], while androgen deficiency has substantially altered the microbiome [252].”

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Authors
Harada, N., Hanaoka, R., Horiuchi, H., Kitakaze, T., Mitani, T., Inui, H., & Yamaji, R.
Affiliations
  • Osaka Prefecture University (JP)
  • Shinshu University (JP)
Corresponding author
Harada, Naoki
Venue
Scientific Reports
Published
2016-03-10
Volume
6
Issue
1
Pages
23001-23001
ISSN
2045-2322 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2296155309
Cited by
110
References
52
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 10 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 15 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 7 · 2016: 2
FWCI
4.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Scientific Reports (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (25450176)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Regulation of Appetite and Obesity
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
Keywords
castration, androgen deficiency, hypogonadism, abdominal obesity, high-fat diet, gut microbiota, Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, Lactobacillus, visceral fat, subcutaneous adipose tissue, adipose triglyceride lipase, hormone-sensitive lipase, muscle mass, fasting blood glucose, hepatic triglycerides, antibiotic therapy, C57BL/6J mice
MeSH terms
Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Acyltransferases, Adipose Tissue, Androgens, Animals, Anti-Bacterial Agents, Blood Glucose, Castration, Humans, Hypogonadism, Lipase, Male, Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic, Mice, Obesity, Abdominal, Diet, High-Fat

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