The Insulin/Insulin-like Growth Factor signalling connects metabolism with sexual differentiation.

Sexual differentiation is a complex process, not only dependent on the XY sex‐determination system; the environment, nutrition, metabolic status, sleep and pollutants also play a pivotal role. Correspondingly, the Insulin/Insulin‐like Growth Factor (IGF) pathway has been described as a key player of sexual development and reproduction. In this issue, Radovic Pletikosic and colleagues demonstrated that Insulin/IGF signaling exerts its action through the regulation of steroidogenesis in Leydig cells.