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Pregnenolone Cascade

Meaning

The Pregnenolone Cascade, often referred to as the steroidogenesis pathway, is the precise sequence of enzymatic conversions that begins with cholesterol and leads to the synthesis of pregnenolone, which is the foundational precursor for virtually all steroid hormones in the human body. Pregnenolone is then metabolized into DHEA, progesterone, and subsequently into the mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, and sex hormones, including testosterone and estrogen. This cascade is a central pillar of the endocrine system, with its efficiency dictating the overall availability of systemic hormonal signaling molecules necessary for homeostasis.