Adrenal androgen stimulating hormone (AASH), also known as cortical androgen stimulating hormone (CASH), is a hypothetical
hormone which has been proposed to stimulate the
adrenal glands to produce
adrenal androgen Adrenal steroids are steroids that are derived from the adrenal glands. They include corticosteroids, which consist of glucocorticoids like cortisol and mineralocorticoids like aldosterone, adrenal androgens like dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), DHEA ...
s such as
dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA),
dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and
androstenedione
Androstenedione, or 4-androstenedione (abbreviated as A4 or Δ4-dione), also known as androst-4-ene-3,17-dione, is an endogenous weak androgen steroid hormone and intermediate in the biosynthesis of estrone and of testosterone from dehydroepia ...
(A4).
It is hypothesized to be involved in
adrenarche and
adrenopause
Adrenopause is the decline in secretion and levels of adrenal androgens such as dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S) from the zona reticularis of the adrenal glands with age. Levels of adrenal androgens start ...
.
The existence of this hormone is controversial and disputed and it has not been identified to date.
A number of other mechanisms and/or hormones may instead play the functional role of the so-called AASH.
See also
*
Adrenocorticotrophic hormone
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH; also adrenocorticotropin, corticotropin) is a polypeptide tropic hormone produced by and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. It is also used as a medication and diagnostic agent. ACTH is an important c ...
(ACTH)
References
{{Biochemistry-stub
Biochemistry
Hormones
Adrenal gland