Fig. 2. Outline of neurosteroidogenesis.
Cytochrome P450side chain cleavage (P450scc) converts cholesterol to pregnenolone, which is metabolized to progesterone by 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β-HSD) or to dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) by cytochrome P450c17 (P450c17). Progesterone is metabolized to allopregnanolone by 5α-reductase (5α-R) and 3α-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase (3α-HSOR) or to androstenedione by P450c17. Aromatase converts androstenedione to estrone, which is metabolized to estradiol by 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD), and synthesizes estradiol from testosterone. DHP, dihydroprogesterone; DHT, dihydrotestosterone; 17-OH-PREG, 17-OH-pregnenolone; 17-OH-PROG, 17-OH-progesterone.
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