Mitochondrial Function. Magalhães et al, 2025

Androgens regulate intrinsic mitochondrial function and OxPhos efficiency in different portions of the adipose tissue in a redox-protective manner

Androgens are male sex hormones that also regulate energy metabolism, including their protective effect on structure and function of mitochondria, responsible for oxidative phosphorylation to produce ATP. Given the involvement of mitochondrial dysfunction in pathological conditions such as obesity, together with the androgen regulation on metabolic and thermogenic parameters in the adipose tissue, our study aimed to investigate the role of androgens in the regulation of mitochondrial respiration in the adipose tissue. Applying high-resolution respirometry, we evaluated oxygen consumption in different modulated respiratory states, as well as ATP and ROS production and transmembrane potential of isolated mitochondria from different portions of the adipose tissue of untreated and hormone replacement-treated castrated rats, as well as non-castrated rats supplemented with androgens. After 8 weeks of the experimental design, the absence of endogenous gonadal androgens increased mitochondrial oxygen consumption, functionally modulating intrinsic electron transport processes, decreasing OxPhos efficiency and increasing ROS production. Replacement therapy and supplementation with androgens had more effect on portions of white adipose tissue. Together, the results pioneerly showed that androgen hormones, in accordance with their mitochondrial redox-protective effect, regulate oxygen consumption and ensure OxPhos efficiency in mitochondria of the adipose tissue.