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Cited by 296Adrenal Hormones and DisordersSexual Differentiation and DisordersHormonal and reproductive studies

Adrenarche—physiology, biochemistry and human disease

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Auchus, Richard J., Rainey, William E.·2004·Clinical Endocrinology
DOI 10.1046/j.1365-2265.2003.01858.x
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Abstract

Summary: Adrenarche refers to the onset of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and DHEA‐sulphate (DHEA‐S) production from the adrenal zona reticularis that can be detected at around 6 years of age. The phenotypic result of adrenarche is pubarche or the development of axillary and pubic hair that occurs in both girls and boys at about age 8. The phenomenon of adrenarche is unique to human beings and to some Old World primates, and a reversal of adrenarche appears to occur in the ageing process. Premature and exaggerated adrenarche can be indicative of future onset of adult diseases, thus increasing the clinical relevance of adrenarche. The physiological triggers of adrenarche and the role(s) of DHEA‐S remain speculative. However, the biochemical pathways that define adrenarche have been characterized in detail, and the appearance of key enzymes and cofactors in the adrenal zona reticularis track with the progression of adrenarche. This article reviews the clinical manifestations of adrenarche, the biochemistry of the enzymes involved in DHEA‐S production, and the cell biology of the adrenal zona reticularis.

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  • The zona reticularis expresses large amounts of P450c17 and cytochrome b5, maximizing 17,20-lyase activity, so that DHEA is produced, much of which is sulfated to DHEAS by SULT2A1.

    “By contrast, the zona reticularis expresses large amounts of P450c17 and cytochrome b 5 (201), maximizing 17,20-lyase activity (189), so that DHEA is produced, much of which is sulfated to DHEAS by SULT2A1 (648).”

    From The Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Physiology of Human Steroidogenesis and Its Disorders (2011) · cites this paper as [648]

  • The pattern of steroid products secreted by each adrenal zone is determined by the enzymes produced in that zone and may be logically deduced from an understanding of their specific enzymatic properties.

    “Thus, the pattern of steroid products secreted by each adrenal zone is determined by the enzymes produced in that zone and may be logically deduced from an understanding of their specific enzymatic properties (648).”

    From The Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Physiology of Human Steroidogenesis and Its Disorders (2011) · cites this paper as [648]

  • The transition from childhood to juvenility is marked by adrenarche.

    “The transition from childhood to juvenility is marked by the event of “adrenal puberty” or adrenarche (Auchus and Rainey, 2004; Ibáñez et al., 2000).”

    From The Adaptive Calibration Model of stress responsivity (2011) · cites this paper as Auchus and Rainey, 2004

  • During adrenarche, development of distinct zona reticularis is accompanied by extreme increase in adrenal androgen precursor production due to decreased expression of HSD3B2 in conjunction with increased CYB5A expression.

    “During that time, the development of a distinct zona reticularis is accompanied by an extreme increase in the adrenal androgen precursor production due to the decreased expression of HSD3B2 in conjunction with increased CYB5A expression [[34], [35], [36], [37], [38]].”

    From Human steroid biosynthesis, metabolism and excretion are differentially reflected by serum and urine steroid metabolomes: a comprehensive review (2019) · cites this paper as [36]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Simard, J., Moisan, A.M. & Morel, Y. (2002) Congenital adrenal hyper- plasia due to 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/∆ 5 -∆ 4 -isomerase defi- ciency. Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, 20, 255 -276. 13652265, 2004, 3, Downloaded from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1046/j.1365-2265.2003.01858.x by Readcube (Labtiva Inc.), Wiley Online Library on [29/05/2023]. See the Terms and Conditions (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/terms-and-conditions) on Wiley Online Library for rules of use; OA articles are governed by the applicable Creative Commons License · DOI

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Authors
Auchus, R. J., & Rainey, W. E.
Affiliations
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (US)
Corresponding author
Auchus, Richard J.
ORCID
Venue
Clinical Endocrinology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2003-11-24
Volume
60
Issue
3
Pages
288-296
ISSN
  • 0300-0664 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2265
DOI
10.1046/j.1365-2265.2003.01858.x
OpenAlex
W2119552011
Cited by
296
References
84
Citations by year
2026: 13 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 19 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 18
FWCI
1.39
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor)
Locations
  • Clinical Endocrinology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Adrenal Hormones and Disorders
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Sexual Differentiation and Disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Hormonal and reproductive studies
Keywords
adrenarche, dehydroepiandrosterone, DHEA sulfate, adrenal zona reticularis, pubarche, premature adrenarche, adrenal steroidogenesis, aging, Old World primates, enzyme cofactors
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adrenal Cortex Diseases, Adrenal Cortex Hormones, Child, Child Development, Female, Hair, Humans, Male, Puberty, Zona Reticularis, Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate

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