Which steroid hormone is Used in the commercial manufacture of progesterone, which can be converted
To androgenic and estrogenic hormones and
To the more complex adrenal steroid hormones, such as cortisone and cortisol?
The steroid hormone used in the commercial manufacture of progesterone, which can be converted into androgenic and estrogenic hormones, as well as the more complex adrenal steroid hormones such as cortisone and cortisol, is pregnenolone.
To arrive at this answer, you can follow these steps:
1. Begin by understanding the basic hierarchy of steroid hormones. Pregnenolone is a precursor hormone that serves as the starting point for the synthesis of other steroid hormones.
2. Progesterone is a hormone that is synthesized from pregnenolone. It can be converted into various other hormones, including androgenic (male) and estrogenic (female) hormones.
3. Adrenal steroid hormones, such as cortisone and cortisol, are more complex in structure and are also synthesized from pregnenolone.
4. By considering this information, it becomes clear that pregnenolone is the steroid hormone used in the commercial manufacture of progesterone, and it serves as a precursor for the synthesis of other hormones.
It's important to note that this answer is specific to the commercial manufacture of progesterone and its derivatives. The natural production of steroid hormones within the body involves a more complex process within the endocrine system.