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Glossary Pregnenolone

steroid hormone precursor to progesterone, estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol

Pregnenolone is a steroid hormone that serves as a precursor to various other hormones, including progesterone, estrogen, testosterone, and cortisol. It is synthesized from cholesterol in the adrenal glands, liver, and brain, playing a crucial role in the body's hormonal balance and overall health.

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research Pregnenolone for the treatment of L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease

2 citations , March 2023 in “Experimental neurology”

In this study, pregnenolone was found to dose-dependently reduce L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias in a rat model of Parkinson's disease, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for these dyskinesias.

research SERUM STEROIDS AND PITUITARY HORMONES IN FEMALE PUBERTY: A PARTLY LONGITUDINAL STUDY

186 citations , February 1980 in “Clinical Endocrinology”

This study observed that serum levels of oestradiol, testosterone, and androstenedione increase rapidly with the onset of puberty and continue to rise after menarche, with anovulatory cycles being common in early postmenarchal girls.

Sigma-1 Receptor-Related Neuroactive Steroids Modulate Cocaine-Induced Reward

research ς₁Receptor-Related Neuroactive Steroids Modulate Cocaine-Induced Reward

100 citations , May 2003 in “Journal of Neuroscience”

This study found that neuroactive steroids like DHEA and pregnenolone influence cocaine-induced appetence in mice through their interaction with the ς₁ receptor, suggesting a role in individual vulnerability to addiction.

research The significance of CYP11A1 expression in skin physiology and pathology

91 citations , March 2021 in “Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology”

CYP11A1 is crucial for skin health and disease by producing important steroids.

research Sigma 1 receptor-related neuroactive steroids modulate cocaine-induced reward.

91 citations , May 2003 in “PubMed”

This study found that neuroactive steroids, through their interaction with the sigma1 receptor, influence the acquisition of cocaine's rewarding effects in mice, suggesting a role in drug addiction vulnerability.

research Relationships between cerebrospinal fluid GABAergic neurosteroid levels and symptom severity in men with PTSD

59 citations , November 2018 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology”

This study suggests that cerebrospinal fluid levels of the neurosteroids allopregnanolone and pregnanolone correlate negatively with PTSD and negative mood symptoms, with potential sex-specific differences in synthesis enzyme blocks.

research GC-MS determination of steroids related to androgen biosynthesis in human hair with pentafluorophenyldimethylsilyl–trimethylsilyl derivatisation

56 citations , January 1999 in “The Analyst”

This study used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to simultaneously quantify androstenedione, dihydrotestosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone, testosterone, androsterone, etiocholanolone, progesterone, and pregnenolone in human hair, detecting differences in steroid concentrations between male and female samples.

Sex Steroid Synthesis in Human Skin In Situ: The Roles of Aromatase and Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein in the Homeostasis of Human Skin

research Sex steroid synthesis in human skin in situ: The roles of aromatase and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein in the homeostasis of human skin

46 citations , May 2012 in “Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology”

In this study, higher expression levels of aromatase and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein were correlated with increased estrogen synthesis and fewer hair follicles in human skin, suggesting a link to elastic fiber formation and hair growth.

research Targeting neurosteroid synthesis as a therapy for schizophrenia-related alterations induced by early psychosocial stress

24 citations , May 2015 in “Schizophrenia Research”

This study found that inhibiting the enzyme 5α-reductase with finasteride counteracted stress-induced prepulse inhibition deficits in socially isolated rats by altering neuroactive steroid concentrations in the brain.

research Alteration of neonatal Allopregnanolone levels affects exploration, anxiety, aversive learning and adult behavioural response to intrahippocampal neurosteroids

24 citations , December 2012 in “Behavioural Brain Research”

This study found that altering Allopregnanolone levels in neonatal rats affects their adult exploratory and anxiety-like behaviors and impairs avoidance learning.

research Isotope Dilution-Based Targeted and Nontargeted Carbonyl Neurosteroid/Steroid Profiling

12 citations , March 2018 in “Analytical chemistry”

This study found that a new analytical approach revealed an increased brain pregnenolone level following finasteride treatment in a mouse model, suggesting potential for improved understanding of neurosteroid roles in brain excitability.

research Recent Advances in Drug Design and Drug Discovery for Androgen- Dependent Diseases

11 citations , February 2016 in “Current Medicinal Chemistry”

This review discusses various targets for treating prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia and reports on recent studies of new compounds and 5α-reductase inhibitors, but provides no new experimental results.

research Interaction between early postnatal neurosteroid manipulations and adult infusion of neurosteroids into CA1 hippocampal region on the open field behaviour

11 citations , October 2010 in “Behavioural Brain Research”

This study found that neonatal administration of allopregnanolone enhances, while finasteride suppresses, the effects of adult intrahippocampal pregnenolone sulphate on rat locomotor activity in an open field test.

research Hair Steroid Profiling Reveals Racial Differences in Male Pattern Baldness between Korean and Caucasian Populations

10 citations , November 2012 in “The journal of investigative dermatology/Journal of investigative dermatology”

This study reported higher dihydrotestosterone and testosterone levels in balding Korean and Caucasian subjects compared to non-balding controls, with variations suggesting racial differences in androgen metabolism.

research The gut‐microbiota‐brain axis: Focus on gut steroids

8 citations , November 2024 in “Journal of Neuroendocrinology”

This review discusses the role of gut steroids in communicating with the gut microbiota and their potential implications in treating gastrointestinal disorders and related brain conditions, suggesting new perspectives on steroid molecules as therapeutic agents.

Testicular Steroidogenesis: Production and Regulation of Testosterone and Dihydrotestosterone

research Testicular Steroidogenesis

5 citations , January 2017 in “Endocrinology”

This chapter reviews the biosynthesis, mechanism of action, and therapeutic effects of testosterone and related androgens, but reports no new research findings.

research Mitochondrial dysfunction in diabetic neuropathy may be involved in the development of neuropathic pain via a reduction in neurosteroid synthesis

4 citations , April 2017 in “F1000Research”

This study found that diazepam had an exaggerated effect on GABA-related inhibitory tone in diabetic neuropathic mice compared to normal mice, potentially due to mitochondrial dysfunction affecting neurosteroid synthesis.

research Effect of Topical Hormones Aging Human Skin

3 citations , January 1967

This study found that testosterone applied to aging skin modestly reduced wrinkles and improved microscopic skin architecture, while ethinyl estradiol showed no effect and corticosteroids worsened skin aging changes.

research The influence of low dose finasteride, a type II 5α-reductase inhibitor, on circulating neuroactive steroids

2 citations , September 2009 in “Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation”

This study found that low-dose finasteride treatment in men with premature androgenetic alopecia decreased levels of 5α-reduced steroids, which may be linked to increased depression symptoms.

research Cutaneous hydroxystereoid dehydrogenases and rat-hair-cycle

2 citations , January 1975 in “Archives of Dermatological Research”

Certain enzymes react strongly with some hormones in rat skin during hair growth, mainly in sebaceous glands and hair sheaths.

research [Neurosteroidogenesis and exploratory responses in rodents].

1 citations , January 2014 in “PubMed”

This study found that PK11195 treatment weakened exploratory behavior in two strains of mice, while finasteride and indomethacin decreased exploration in laboratory rodents regardless of species.

research New Synthesis of Finasteride

1 citations , January 2003 in “Chinese Journal of Pharmaceuticals”

This study developed a new synthetic route for finasteride that omits the costly reagent 2,2′ dipyridyl disulfide, achieving an overall yield of 16%.

research Mitochondrial dysfunction in an animal model of diabetic neuropathy is associated with a reduction of neurosteroid synthesis.

1 citations , March 2018 in “F1000Research”

This study found that diazepam has an exaggerated effect on GABAergic inhibitory tone in diabetic neuropathy mouse models, likely due to upregulated neurosteroidogenic enzymes responding to mitochondrial dysfunction.

research Serum and hair steroid profiles and their associations with body composition in adolescence.

November 2025 in “Open Access CRIS of the University of Bern”

This study compared serum and hair steroid hormone profiles in adolescents and found that hair steroid profiling is a feasible, non-invasive alternative to serum analysis, with androgen levels in both mediums correlating more strongly with body size and composition in boys than in girls.

research Serum and hair steroid profiles and their associations with body composition in adolescence

November 2025 in “European Journal of Endocrinology”

This study found that hair steroid profiling is a feasible, non-invasive alternative to serum analysis in adolescents, with androgen levels correlating more strongly with body size and composition in boys than girls.

research Altered Hormone and Bioactive Lipid Plasma Profile in Rodent Models of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Revealed by Targeted Mass Spectrometry

March 2025 in “Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism”

This study found that while rat models treated with letrozole and dihydrotestosterone exhibit altered sterol, leukotriene, and steroid hormone profiles similar to human PCOS, significant differences remain.

research Altered Hormone and Bioactive Lipid Plasma Profile in Rodent Models of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Revealed by Targeted Mass Spectrometry

October 2024 in “bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)”

This study examined lipid changes in rat models of polycystic ovarian syndrome, finding that letrozole and dihydrotestosterone treatments led to some lipid alterations similar to human PCOS, while other changes were unique to the models.

research Study on Changes of 19 Steroids in Plasma From 9 Diagnosed Patients With P450 Oxidoreductase Deficiency

September 2021 in “Research Square (Research Square)”

This study found that measuring specific steroid hormone levels can aid in diagnosing P450 oxidoreductase deficiency, a subtype of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, by distinguishing affected patients from healthy individuals.

research SHORT-TERM DIABETES IN THE BRAIN: EFFECTS ON NEUROACTIVE STEROIDS, CHOLESTEROL HOMEOSTASIS, AND MITOCHONDRIAL FUNCTIONALITY

January 2017 in “Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca (Universita Degli Studi Di Milano)”

This study found that one month of diabetes altered neuroactive steroid levels and associated mechanisms in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex of an experimental rat model.

research Unraveling the Complex: Changes in Secondary Science Preservice Teachers' Assessment Expertise

January 2012 in “ProQuest LLC eBooks”

This study found that neonatal finasteride and allopregnanolone alterations were associated with anxiety-related behavior changes and impaired aversive learning in adult rats, potentially due to GABA(A) receptor system changes in the hippocampus.