**5.2.2 Adiponectin**

Adiponectin is an adipocyte hormone participating in lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis. Adiponectine receptors and its mRNA are expressed in the ovaries and testicles. Pituitary gonadotropins have low effects on adiponectin mRNA testicular levels. Metabolic signals, such as glucocorticoids, thyroxine, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma modulate the expression of adiponectin mRNA. *In vitro* studies show that recombinant adiponectin inhibits basal and human chorio-gonadotropin-stimulated testosterone secretion by adult rat testicles (Caminos et al., 2008).
