145-13-1

Chemical Description

Pregnenolone is a steroid hormone involved in the production of other hormones such as estrogen and testosterone.

in vitro

pregnenolone is the precursor from which almost all of the other steroid hormones are made, including dhea, testosterone, progesterone, the estrogens and cortisol. pregnenolone also operates as a powerful neurosteroid in the brain, which modulates the transmission of messages from neuron to neuron and strongly influencing learning and memory processes [1].

in vivo

the ability of pregnenolone sulfate derivatives (pregs) to modulate the age-induced learning impairment was tested in 16- month-old mice using the step-down type of passive avoidance. decreased step-down latency was observed in the passive avoidance task in 16-month-old mice compared to 3-month-old mice, revealing retention deficits in old mice. pretraining injections of pregs dose-dependently improved the 24 h delay retention performances in this task in old mice [1].

references

[1] vallée m, mayo w, le moal m. role of pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone and their sulfate esters on learning and memory in cognitive aging. brain res brain res rev. 2001 nov;37(1-3):301-12.

Definition

ChEBI: A 20-oxo steroid that is pregn-5-ene substituted by a beta-hydroxy group at position 3 and an oxo group at position 20.

General Description

Pregnenolone is an endogenous steroid hormone involved in the biological synthesis of other hormones. Pregnenolone is monitored as an ancillary test for congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), particularly in situations where diagnosis of 21-hydroxylase and 11-hydroxylase deficiency has been ruled out. This Certified Spiking Solution? is suitable for use in LC-MS/MS testing methods as a starting material in the preparation of calibrators, controls and linearity standards.