Meta-Biol

• Pathways

The 17HSD family of enzymes catalyze the final step in the synthesis of estradiol and testosterone. They convert inactive 17-ketosteroids to their active 17beta-hydroxy forms. Androstenedione, a ketosteroid, is reduced to testosterone, a highly potent androgen, by the enzyme 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase isoform III (17HSD3). The other human isoforms of 17HSDs to take part in the final steps of active steroid biosynthesis are types 1 and VII, which reduce estrone to estradiol.
Corticotropin (Adrenocorticotropic hormone, ACTH) acts through the ACTH receptor called melanocortin receptor type 2 (MC2R) to stimulate steroidogenesis, increasing the production of androgens (McKenna et al, 1997).
In males, Lutropin (LH) stimulates testosterone production. In females, lutropin (LH) can trigger ovulation.