CorpusHuman Anatomy
EndocrineHormone

Adrenal androgens (DHEA, DHEA-S, androstenedione)

Also known as: DHEA, DHEA-S, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione, adrenal sex steroids

Weak androgens from the zona reticularis — mainly DHEA and its sulfate — that are converted in peripheral tissues to testosterone and estrogens; they drive adrenarche and provide much of the androgen in women.

Show on body map

Overview

ClassC19 steroids
Adrenarche≈6–8 years
Most abundant circulating steroidDHEA-S

The zona reticularis expresses high 17,20-lyase activity (CYP17A1 with cytochrome b5) and sulfotransferase, converting pregnenolone into dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), its sulfate DHEA-S (the most abundant circulating steroid, with a long half-life) and androstenedione. These have little intrinsic androgenic activity but are converted in skin, hair follicles, adipose tissue and liver to testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (by 17β-HSD and 5α-reductase) or to estrone/estradiol (by aromatase).

Secretion is driven by ACTH, but adrenal androgens do not feed back on ACTH. Production is high in fetal life (the fetal zone supplies DHEA-S for placental estriol), very low in early childhood, rises at adrenarche (≈6–8 years) and peaks in the 20s before declining steadily ("adrenopause").

Location

Source: zona reticularis of the adrenal cortex. Targets: peripheral tissues that convert them (skin, hair follicles, adipose tissue).

Function

  • Drive adrenarche: pubic and axillary hair, apocrine body odour, sebum and acne.
  • Provide ≈50 % of circulating testosterone in women (via peripheral conversion) and contribute to libido.
  • Supply precursors for estrogen synthesis in adipose tissue (especially after menopause).
Physiology

Class: C19 steroids. Act through the androgen receptor (after conversion) or aromatised to estrogens. DHEA-S is used as a marker of adrenal androgen production.

Regulation

ACTH (no negative feedback by androgens); age-dependent maturation of the zona reticularis.

Clinical significance

Androgen excess in females

CAH (21-hydroxylase deficiency) causes virilisation and ambiguous genitalia at birth or hirsutism later (non-classic form); androgen-secreting adrenal tumours cause rapid virilisation with very high DHEA-S.

Premature adrenarche

Pubic hair before 8 years in girls (9 in boys) from early zona reticularis maturation; usually benign but CAH and tumours must be excluded.

Compiled from standard anatomy and physiology references — see the Endocrine System sources. For education only; not medical advice.