Dehydroepiandrosterone impact on smooth muscle contractile activity by a nongenomic action

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is the most abundant steroid hormone in primates; however, its levels decline with age in both men and women. Numerous studies have documented diverse biological activities of DHEA. This article reviews the current understanding of how DHEA regulates the contractile function of vascular and nonvascular smooth muscle (SM), specifically examining its relaxant properties mediated through nongenomic mechanisms. It summarizes both older and recent findings on DHEA and its role in regulating SM contractile activity. Moreover, it also discusses the potential mechanisms underlying its relaxation effects, including the structural-functional differences in the DHEA molecule and its ability to induce relaxation in various types of SM. Overall, DHEA introduces a novel aspect to the regulation of functional processes involved in SM contractile activity.