EpiandrosteroneS2832

Epiandrosterone is a natural metabolite of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) via the 5α-reductaseenzyme. Epiandrosterone is formed in peripheral tissues, from which it is released into the circulation and is ultimately excreted in the urine. Epiandrosterone is only a weak androgen, but it is widely recognized to inhibit the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) and to decrease intracellular NADPH levels. ^[1] Epiandrosterone attenuates NO-evoked relaxation of pulmonary artery ^[2], although it inhibits angiotensin II- and hypoxia-induced vasoconstriction in isolated lungs and relaxes isolated pulmonary arteries pre-constricted with KCl. ^[3]