'beneficial' adipokines in reproduction and fertility

• Published in: International Journal of Obesity Vol. 32; no. 2; pp. 223 - 231
• Main Authors: Campos, D.B, Palin, M.F, Bordignon, V, Murphy, B.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01-02-2008; Nature Publishing; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: adipokines; Adipokines - physiology; adiponectin; Adiponectin - physiology; Adipose tissue; Amenorrhea; Biological and medical sciences; Body fat; Cytokines; Epidemiology; Fat cells; Female; Fertility; Fertility, Human; follicular development; Glucose; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; hormone metabolism; human fertility; human reproduction; Humans; Infertility; Infertility, Female - etiology; Influence; Insulin; Insulin resistance; Insulin Resistance - physiology; Internal Medicine; literature reviews; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Metabolic Diseases; Metabolic Syndrome - etiology; Metabolism; Obesity; Obesity - complications; Obesity - physiopathology; omentin; Ovaries; Ovary - physiology; Ovulation; Physiological aspects; Placenta; Placenta - drug effects; Polycystic ovary syndrome; Properties; Proteins; Public Health; Reproduction - physiology; review; signal transduction; signaling proteins; uterus; Uterus - physiology; vaspin; visfatin/PBEF; Weight control; women; Canada; adiponectin; insulin sensitivity; placenta; ovary; adipokines; uterus; Obesity; Pancreatic hormone; Nutrition; Fetal membrane; Nutrition disorder; Metabolic diseases; Adipokine; Review; Insulin; Adiponectin; Pregnancy; Ovary; Reproduction; Placenta; Uterus; Fertility; Female genital system; Insulin resistance; Nutritional status
• ISSN: 0307-0565; 1476-5497
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803719

The objective of this study was to review the available information on the signaling proteins produced by adipose tissue in the context of their role in regulating reproductive processes, including ovarian and uterine function. It is well known that both obesity and excessive leanness are associated with reproductive dysfunction. Adipokines are cytokines predominately or exclusively expressed by adipose tissue that circulate and affect target tissues. Four known adipokines, adiponectin, visfatin/PBEF, omentin and vaspin, all increase tissue sensitivity to insulin, and are thus described as ‘beneficial’. There is strong support for a role for adiponectin in the function of the ovary and placenta. There is evidence for direct effects of this adipokine on the late stages of folliculogenesis, and additive interactions of adiponectin with insulin and gonadotropins in inducing periovulatory changes in ovarian follicles. In addition, clinical and genomic studies associate hypoadiponectinemia with obesity-related reproductive disorders, including the polycystic ovarian syndrome. The roles for visfatin/PBEF, omentin and vaspin in reproduction remain to be established. The conclusion thus drawn is that the expression of insulin-sensitizing adipokines varies with adipose abundance. These adipokines have demonstrated both the potential effects on ovarian function and the possible effects on the formation of the placenta, acting through multiple mechanisms.