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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Feb 1.
Published in final edited form as: Horm Behav. 2012 May 2;63(2):254–266. doi: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2012.04.016

Fig. 2. Biosynthesis of neurosteroids AP and THDOC in the brain.

Fig. 2

Enzymatic pathways for the production of two prototype neurosteroids AP and THDOC is illustrated from steroid precursors. P and deoxycorticosterone undergo two sequential A-ring reduction steps catalyzed by 5α-reductase and 3α-HSOR to form the 5α, 3α-reduced neurosteroids. The conversion of P or deoxycorticosterone into neurosteroids occurs in several regions within the brain. The 5α-reductase, 3α-hydroxysteroid oxidoreductase (3α-HSOR), cytochrome P450 21-hydroxylase (P450c21) and other enzymes are present in the brain.