[Dehydroepiandrosterone: physiological role and possibilities of use as a drug]

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is one of the important androgens synthesized by the adrenal cortex from 17-hydroxypregnenolone. In the mesh zone of the adrenal cortex, with the participation of enzymes 17, 20-desmolase and 17-a-hydroxylase, the cholesterol is sequentially converted through 17-hydroxypregnenolone (17-OH-pregnenolone) to DHEA. It has been proven that the adrenal glands are mainly involved in the synthesis of DHEA (70%) and its less active metabolite, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) (85%). Only 10% DHEA is synthesized in the gonads. There is evidence of the formation of DHEA in the central nervous system, where enzyme systems (P450c17) are detected in astrocytes and neurons that synthesize DHEA from pregnenolone.