Androgen Secretion refers to the physiological process wherein the endocrine glands, primarily the testes in males and the adrenal cortex in both sexes, synthesize and release androgens, the group of steroid hormones including testosterone and DHEA. This critical function underpins the development and maintenance of secondary sexual characteristics and numerous metabolic processes throughout the lifespan. Proper regulation of this output is fundamental to overall hormonal equilibrium and clinical well-being. Disturbances in this secretion pattern often manifest in observable clinical presentations requiring careful endocrinological assessment.
Origin
The term originates from the combination of “Androgen,” derived from the Greek andros meaning “man,” and “Secretion,” relating to the process of releasing a substance from a gland. Within endocrinology, it specifically denotes the output of male-pattern hormones from their respective glandular sources. This concept is central to understanding gonadal and adrenal axis function. We view this secretion as the tangible output of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis activity.
Mechanism
Androgen secretion is primarily controlled by the HPG axis through a negative feedback loop involving GnRH, LH, and FSH signaling. Luteinizing Hormone (LH) stimulates Leydig cells in the testes to convert cholesterol precursors into testosterone, the principal androgen. Adrenal secretion of DHEA and androstenedione follows a different, ACTH-dependent pathway. Maintaining appropriate secretory rates requires precise temporal signaling across these endocrine territories. This cascade ensures systemic androgen availability for target tissue response.
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