Adrenal Androgens

Abstract

Adrenal androgens (AA) are 19 carbon (C19) steroids that are secreted by the adrenal cortex through complicated biosynthetic pathways, which are regulated by complex mechanisms not completely understood as of yet. Adrenal steroidogenesis differs between the fetal and adult adrenal not only in regard to the site of production, but also in their significance for the human organism. The production of the AA is coordinated by a large number of adrenal and non-adrenal regulators. These steroids exert a number of effects in normal physiology and their excess may cause a number of different kinds of disorders.