Diversity of Androgens; Comparison of Their Significance and Characteristics in Vertebrate Species

Androgen(s) is one of the sex steroids that are involved in many physiological phenomena of vertebrate species. Although androgens were originally identified as male sex hormones, it is well known now that they are also essential in females. As in the case of other steroid hormones, androgen is produced from cholesterol through serial enzymatic reactions. Although testis is a major tissue to produce androgens in all species, androgens are also produced in ovary and adrenal (interrenal tissue). Testosterone is the most common and famous androgen. It represents a major androgen both in males and females of almost vertebrate species. In addition, testosterone is a precursor for producing significant androgens such as11-ketotestosterone, 5α-dihydrotestosterone, 11-ketodihydrotestosterones and 15α-hydroxytestosterone in a species- or sex-dependent manner for their homeostasis. In this article, we will review the significance and characteristics of these androgens, following a description of the history of testosterone discovery and its synthetic pathways.