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Reproductive biology

Bone returns the favour

Nature volume 472, pages 46–47 (2011)Cite this article

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There are well-established links between the reproductive system, metabolism and skeletal growth. But it comes as a surprise that the skeleton — more specifically, the bone hormone osteocalcin — modulates fertility.

Fertility is a complex process: it is regulated by numerous genetic and environmental factors, and involves coordinate regulation among several organ systems. It is also directly associated with the quantity and quality of sperm and eggs1, and is affected by disease and ageing. Reporting in Cell, Oury et al.2 identify a new player. Osteocalcin — a hormone secreted by bone — regulates male fertility by increasing testosterone levels.

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Figure 1: A link between the skeleton and reproduction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. and in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sonya M. Schuh-Huerta and Renee A. Reijo Pera are at the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA.,

    Sonya M. Schuh-Huerta & Renee A. Reijo Pera

Authors
  1. Sonya M. Schuh-Huerta
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  2. Renee A. Reijo Pera
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Correspondence to Sonya M. Schuh-Huerta or Renee A. Reijo Pera.

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Schuh-Huerta, S., Pera, R. Bone returns the favour. Nature 472, 46–47 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1038/472046a

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