Barsky Sabrina Tzivia, Monks Douglas Ashley
Department of Cell & Systems Biology, Faculty of Arts & Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts & Science, University of Toronto Mississauga, 3359 Mississauga Road North, Deerfield Hall DH4098, Mississauga, ON, L5L 1C6, Canada.
Biol Sex Differ. 2025 Apr 23;16(1):28. doi: 10.1186/s13293-025-00707-6.
Gonadal testosterone stimulates skeletal muscle anabolism and contributes to sexually differentiated adipose distribution through incompletely understood mechanisms. Observations in humans and animal models have indicated a major role for androgen receptor (AR) in mediating sex differences in body composition throughout the lifespan. Traditional surgical, genetic and pharmacological studies have tested systemic actions of circulating androgens, and more recent transgenic approaches have allowed for tests of AR gene function in specific androgen responsive niches contributing to body composition, including: skeletal muscle and surrounding interstitial cells, white and brown adipose, as well as trabecular and cortical bone. Less well understood is how these functions of gonadal androgens interact with exercise. Here, we summarize the understood mechanisms of action of AR and its interactions with exercise, specifically on outcomes of body composition and muscle function, and the global- and tissue-specific role of AR in regulating skeletal muscle, adipose, and bone morphology. Additionally, we describe the known effects of androgen and AR manipulation on female body composition, muscle morphology, and sport performance, while highlighting a need for greater inclusion of female subjects in human and animal muscle physiology and endocrinology research.
性腺睾酮通过尚未完全了解的机制刺激骨骼肌合成代谢，并导致性别分化的脂肪分布。对人类和动物模型的观察表明，雄激素受体（AR）在介导一生中身体成分的性别差异方面起主要作用。传统的手术、遗传学和药理学研究已经测试了循环雄激素的全身作用，最近的转基因方法允许在有助于身体成分的特定雄激素反应龛中测试AR基因功能，包括：骨骼肌和周围间质细胞、白色和棕色脂肪，以及小梁骨和皮质骨。性腺雄激素的这些功能如何与运动相互作用则了解较少。在这里，我们总结了AR的已知作用机制及其与运动的相互作用，特别是对身体成分和肌肉功能结果的影响，以及AR在调节骨骼肌、脂肪和骨骼形态方面的整体和组织特异性作用。此外，我们描述了雄激素和AR操纵对女性身体成分、肌肉形态和运动表现的已知影响，同时强调在人类和动物肌肉生理学和内分泌学研究中需要更多地纳入女性受试者。
