In the pathway, which sequence best describes the conversion: DHEA to testosterone to estrogen?

In the pathway, which sequence best describes the conversion: DHEA to testosterone to estrogen?

• A. DHEA → Testosterone → Estrogen
• B. Testosterone → DHEA → Estrogen
• C. Estrogen → Testosterone → DHEA
• D. DHEA → Estrogen → Testosterone

Answer: (A)

Steroid hormone production moves from precursor molecules to more downstream hormones via specific enzymatic steps. DHEA is one of the adrenal precursors that can be converted into androgens, which then serve as substrates for estrogen formation. The key enzyme aromatase converts testosterone (an androgen) into estrogen (estradiol) in tissues that express it. Therefore, starting from DHEA, the next step is toward testosterone, and the following step is the production of estrogen. This makes the sequence DHEA → testosterone → estrogen the correct order. In this pathway, estrogen is produced after androgen formation, not before, and DHEA is the upstream precursor feeding the androgen and subsequent estrogen across the steps.

Steroid hormone production moves from precursor molecules to more downstream hormones via specific enzymatic steps. DHEA is one of the adrenal precursors that can be converted into androgens, which then serve as substrates for estrogen formation. The key enzyme aromatase converts testosterone (an androgen) into estrogen (estradiol) in tissues that express it. Therefore, starting from DHEA, the next step is toward testosterone, and the following step is the production of estrogen. This makes the sequence DHEA → testosterone → estrogen the correct order. In this pathway, estrogen is produced after androgen formation, not before, and DHEA is the upstream precursor feeding the androgen and subsequent estrogen across the steps.