Androstenediol

Androstenediol is a term used to refer to two different steroids with molecular weights of 290.44. They are 4-androstenediol (4-androstene-3beta,17beta-diol) and 5-androstenediol (5-androstene-3beta,17beta-diol).

4-Androstenediol is closer to testosterone structurally, and has androgenic effects.

5-Androstenediol is a direct metabolite of the most abundant steroid produced by the human adrenal cortex, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). 5-Androstenediol is less androgenic than 4-androstenediol, and stimulates the immune system. When administered to rats in vivo, 5-androstenediol has approximately 1/70 the androgenicity of DHEA, 1/185 the androgenicity of androstenedione, and 1/475 the androgenicity of testosterone (Coffey, 1988). Because it induces production of white blood cells and platelets, 5-androstenediol is being developed as a radiation countermeasure by the Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute. Until 2007, it was being developed as a radiation countermeasure by Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals as Neumune (HE2100).

Androstenediol is on the list of substances banned by the Major League Baseball drug policy.

ee also

*Androstenedione

References

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* Coffey, DS (1988) "Androgen action and the sex accessory tissues". In E Knobil, J Neill (eds), The Physiology of Reproduction. Raven Press, New York, pp 1081-1119.
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