- A Review of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Function in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

The metabolic pathway showing the steps involved in the synthesis of cortisol from cholesterol. Cholesterol is converted to pregnenolone by desmolase, which is then converted to progesterone by 3-B-hydroxysteroid. Progesterone is converted to 17-a-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OH progesterone) by 17-hydroxylase. The 17-OH progesterone is then converted to 11-deoxycortisol by the enzyme 21-hydroxylase. Finally, 11-deoxycortisol is converted into cortisol by 11-hydroxylase. DHEA: dehydroepiandrosterone.

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Reference

A Review of Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis Function in Chronic Fatigue Syndrome - Scientific Figure on ResearchGate. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-metabolic-pathway-showing-the-steps-involved-in-the-synthesis-of-cortisol-from_fig2_258398094 [accessed 20 May 2025]

Caption

The metabolic pathway showing the steps involved in the synthesis of cortisol from cholesterol. Cholesterol is converted to pregnenolone by desmolase, which is then converted to progesterone by 3-B-hydroxysteroid. Progesterone is converted to 17-a-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OH progesterone) by 17-hydroxylase. The 17-OH progesterone is then converted to 11-deoxycortisol by the enzyme 21-hydroxylase. Finally, 11-deoxycortisol is converted into cortisol by 11-hydroxylase. DHEA: dehydroepiandrosterone.

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<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/figure/The-metabolic-pathway-showing-the-steps-involved-in-the-synthesis-of-cortisol-from_fig2_258398094"><img src="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/258398094/figure/fig2/AS:1089054695276545@1636662281320/The-metabolic-pathway-showing-the-steps-involved-in-the-synthesis-of-cortisol-from.jpg" alt="The metabolic pathway showing the steps involved in the synthesis of cortisol from cholesterol. Cholesterol is converted to pregnenolone by desmolase, which is then converted to progesterone by 3-B-hydroxysteroid. Progesterone is converted to 17-a-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OH progesterone) by 17-hydroxylase. The 17-OH progesterone is then converted to 11-deoxycortisol by the enzyme 21-hydroxylase. Finally, 11-deoxycortisol is converted into cortisol by 11-hydroxylase. DHEA: dehydroepiandrosterone."/></a>