Pregnenolone, Pregnanolone, Neurohormones, Neurosteroids
Updated July 27, 2022
Sex and Adrenal Hormones Program
Pregnenolone is a precursor sterol hormone, based on cholesterol, and then made into progesterone(s), estrogen(s), testosterone(s), cortisone(s) (and other adrenal hormones) and aldosterone. It is appropriately called “the grandmother hormone” because all the major sex hormones are made from it.
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It is also considered a “neurohormone” or more specifically a “neurosteroid” because it bridges the nervous and hormonal systems.
Pregnanolone is further down in the synthetic pathway, meaning that it is already specialized as a part of the progesterone path. While affecting all the hormones indirectly, its directly related to progesterone(s).
Neurosteroid Actions in Memory and Neurologic-Neuropsychiatric Disorders.2019
Allopregnanolone as a mediator of affective switching in reproductive mood disorders.2014
Pleiotropic actions of allopregnanolone underlie therapeutic benefits in-stress-related-disease.2020
