Medical Term:
dehydroepiandrosterone
Pronunciation: dē-hī′drō-ep′ē-an-dros′ter-ōn
Definition: A steroid secreted chiefly by the adrenal cortex, but also by the testis; it is the principal precursor of urinary 17-ketosteroids. Weakly androgenic itself, it is metabolized to ΄-5 androstenediol, a hormone with both androgenic and estrogenic effects, and is one of the precursors of testosterone. Serum levels are elevated in adrenal virilism. It may function as a neurotransmitter.
Synonym(s): androstenolone, dehydroisoandrosterone
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Examples: glitazone, GI cocktail, etc.
