Androgen synthesis is the complex, multi-step biochemical process within the body responsible for the creation of male sex hormones, such as testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This vital endocrine function ensures the development and maintenance of male secondary sexual characteristics, regulates libido, and supports bone and muscle mass in both sexes. A proper understanding of this pathway is essential for diagnosing and managing conditions related to hormonal imbalance, including hypogonadism and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Origin
The term “androgen” is a compound of the Greek words andrós, meaning “of a man,” and gennán, meaning “to engender” or “to produce.” The scientific understanding of this synthesis pathway began to solidify in the early to mid-20th century with the isolation and structural elucidation of key steroid hormones. This process is a fundamental component of the broader steroidogenesis pathway, which originates from cholesterol.
Mechanism
This biosynthetic pathway initiates with cholesterol, which is converted to pregnenolone within the mitochondria of steroidogenic tissues, primarily the adrenal glands and gonads. Subsequent enzymatic conversions, involving key enzymes like 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17α-hydroxylase, transform pregnenolone into dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and then androstenedione. The final and most critical step involves the enzyme 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase converting androstenedione into the potent androgen, testosterone, thereby completing the synthesis cascade.
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