The pregnelolone ELISA is a quantitative immunoassay for the determination of pregnenolone in human serum.
Pregnenolone (3β-hydroxypregn-5-en-20-one) is the first steroid to be derived from cholesterol in the pathway of steroidogenesis, and it is the common precursor for all adrenal and gonadal steroids. Its production occurs in the mitochondrion by cleavage of the C-20 side chain of cholesterol by the P-450SCC enzyme. Once produced, pregnenolone may be utilized by two pathways of steroidogenesis. Pregnenolone may either be converted to 17-OH-pregnenolone via the enzymatic action of 17α-hydroxylase or to progesterone via the enzymatic action of 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.
For In Vitro Diagnostic Use in the United States. For Research Use Only in other territories.
Elevated pregnenolone levels occur in forms of congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), due to 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency or 17α-hydroxylase deficiencies. Higher levels have also been reported in women with idiopathic hirsutism. Studies on pregnenolone levels regarding sex and age differences indicate that maximum levels occur at approximately 17 and 16 years of age for women and men, while minimum levels occur at approximately 37 and 38 years of age for women and men, respectively. In general, women were found to have slightly higher values when compared to men.
Many areas of pregnenolone physiology remain to be investigated. Current research indicates that the determination of pregnenolone in serum may be useful for studying its metabolite, pregnenolone sulfate, which has been reported to have various effects in the mammalian brain and central nervous system.
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