A CRITICAL-REVIEW OF THE ORIGIN AND CONTROL OF ADRENAL ANDROGENS

The reticularis and fasciculata zones of the adrenal cortex are the pr edominant sources of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA-sulphate a nd contribute directly or indirectly 60-75% of androstenedione and tes tosterone in women. The specific control of adrenal androgens remains unclear, While ACTH stimulates adrenal androgen secretion, the dissoci ation of cortisol and androgens occurring during adrenarche and under pathological conditions suggests other factors are involved, Recent st udies using human adrenal cells in vitro have demonstrated that the ra tio of androgen to cortisol produced is substantially independent of t he age and gender of the adrenal, indicating that extra-adrenal factor s are of greater importance. beta-endorphin and joining peptide have b een shown to stimulate androgen production in human adrenal cells and to influence ACTH-stimulated steroidogenesis in a manner that promotes adrenal androgen production. The activity of these proopiomelanocorti n-derived peptides may explain the physiological and pathological diss ociations of androgens and cortisol.