5-Androstenediol

5-Androstenediol (abbreviated as 5-Adiol) is a steroid and hormone that is a direct metabolite of the most abundant steroid produced by the human adrenal cortex, Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). It is less androgenic, by a factor of about 1/14th, in comparison to its parent hormone DHEA. 5-Adiol is a direct and potent estrogen receptor agonist, and serves as a direct precursor in the biosynthesis of some of the most important estrogens in humans.

Biosynthesis

5-Adiol is synthesized from DHEA by the enzyme 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, with androsterone as an intermediate.

Pharmacology

5-Adiol has been found to possess estrogenic activity, acting as a potent full agonist of the estrogen receptor (ER). It has approximately 1% and 0.3% of the affinity of estradiol at the ERα and ERβ, respectively.

Medical Use

5-Adiol has been used in clinical trials for the treatment of multiple sclerosis and for the treatment of ischemic stroke. It has been found to have neuroprotective effects in an animal model of multiple sclerosis.

See Also

• Dehydroepiandrosterone
• Estrogen receptor
• Androsterone

5-Androstenediol Resources
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