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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 16, 2026

Author Spotlight: Semi-Automated Isolation of the Stromal Vascular Fraction from Murine White Adipose Tissue Using a Tissue Dissociator

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Published on: May 19, 2023

Female Adipose Tissue Sex Steroid Biosynthesis.

Natalia Hetemäki¹, Tomi S Mikkola¹, Hanna Savolainen-Peltonen¹

¹Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.

Seminars in Reproductive Medicine

|October 3, 2025

Summary

Adipose tissue produces estrogens and androgens throughout life. After menopause, this local production influences estrogen levels, impacting fat distribution and metabolic health, warranting further research.

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Area of Science:

Endocrinology
Metabolic Health
Adipose Tissue Biology

Background:

Adipose tissue locally synthesizes estrogens (estradiol, estrone) and androgens (testosterone) throughout a woman's lifespan.
In premenopausal women, adipose tissue contributes to estrogen production alongside ovarian synthesis.
Postmenopause, adipose tissue becomes the primary source of estrogens, coinciding with increased visceral fat and metabolic disorder risk.

Purpose of the Study:

To discuss the roles of estrogens and androgens in adipose tissue distribution and function.
To highlight the significance of local sex steroid biosynthesis (intracrinology) in shaping adipose tissue environments.
To underscore the need for further research into the relationship between local sex steroid milieu and metabolic dysfunction.

Main Methods:

Literature review and discussion of existing research on sex steroid biosynthesis in adipose tissue.
Analysis of the impact of menopause on adipose tissue estrogen production and distribution.
Exploration of the concept of intracrinology within adipose tissue.

Main Results:

Adipose tissue is a significant site for sex steroid production in women across lifespan.
Postmenopausal changes in adipose tissue estrogen production correlate with altered fat distribution and metabolic risk.
Local sex steroid biosynthesis influences the balance between subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue depots.

Conclusions:

Local sex steroid production by adipose tissue plays a crucial role in regulating fat distribution and metabolic function.
Understanding adipose tissue intracrinology is key to addressing menopause-associated adiposity and metabolic burden.
Further investigation is required to fully elucidate the complex interplay between adipose sex steroid environment and metabolic health.