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Gonadal Hormone Raw Material

Meaning

Gonadal Hormone Raw Material specifically refers to the foundational precursor molecules, primarily cholesterol, required by the gonads—the testes and ovaries—for the synthesis of sex steroids like testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. The availability of this material is a critical determinant of the gonadal capacity to produce sex hormones, which govern reproductive function, secondary sexual characteristics, and bone health. This raw material can be sourced from de novo synthesis within the gonadal cells or, more commonly, from circulating lipoproteins.