Fig. 8
From: High androgen concentrations in follicular fluid of polycystic ovary syndrome women
Overview of androgen synthesis pathways in women. Metabolic pathways of androgen synthesis in the adrenal glands and ovarian theca and granulosa cells. In PCOS (pink arrow), steroidogenesis seems to be diverted from adrenal to ovarian metabolic pathways due to CYP11A1, CYP17 and 3𝛽HSD hyperactivity in theca cells, resulting in increased intrafollicular levels of 17OH-pregnenolone, DHEA, ∆4-androstenedione and testosterone. PCOS = Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; DHEA = dehydroepiandrosterone; DOC = deoxycorticosterone