Pregnanetriol

Pregnanetriol

0Pregnanetriol is a steroid metabolite, specifically a metabolite of progesterone, a female sex hormone. It is primarily excreted in the urine and can be used as a marker for certain medical conditions.

Structure and Synthesis

Pregnanetriol is a trihydroxy derivative of pregnane, a parent structure for many biologically active steroids. It is synthesized in the body from progesterone through a series of enzymatic reactions involving hydroxylation and oxidation.

Biological Role

In the human body, pregnanetriol plays a role in the metabolic pathway of progesterone. It is a downstream metabolite, meaning it is produced in the process of progesterone metabolism. The levels of pregnanetriol in the urine can be used as an indicator of the rate of progesterone metabolism.

Clinical Significance

Pregnanetriol is used in medical diagnostics as a marker for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH), a group of inherited disorders affecting the adrenal glands. Elevated levels of pregnanetriol in the urine are indicative of certain forms of CAH, such as 21-hydroxylase deficiency.

Measurement

The levels of pregnanetriol in the urine can be measured using a variety of techniques, including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). These tests are typically performed in a clinical laboratory setting.

See Also

• Progesterone
• Steroid
• Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
• 21-hydroxylase