A crosstalk between bone and gonads.

The sex steroid hormones testosterone and estrogen are essential determinants not only of reproductive functions but also for bone growth and the maintenance of skeletal integrity. The importance of this latter form of regulation is best exemplified by the fact that gonadal failure triggers bone loss in both genders and causes osteoporosis in postmenauposal women. Traditionally, bone physiology is studied with the view that the skeleton is simply a recipient of hormonal inputs. However, a richer picture of bone physiology has recently emerged, and it is now clear that the skeleton is an endocrine organ itself. This is particularly relevant to the interplay between bone and gonads because genetics and biochemical evidence have established that bone, via the osteoblast-derived hormone osteocalcin, promotes testosterone biosynthesis. This review will present the mechanism of action of osteocalcin and will discuss the implications of this novel regulation.