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| Other names | 5,16-Androstadien-3β-ol |
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| Formula | C19H28O |
| Molar mass | 272.432 g·mol−1 |
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Androstadienol, orandrosta-5,16-dien-3β-ol, is a16-androstene classendogenoussteroid,pheromone, andchemical intermediate to several other pheromones that is found in thesweat of both men and women.[1][2]
Androstadienol andandrostadienone are odorless compounds secreted by theapocrine glands, and via conversion into the more powerfully-odorousandrostenone andandrostenol (catalyzed byaerobiccorynebacteria, particularlyCorynebacterium xerosis, in men, andMicrococcaceae spp. in women), are considered to be mainly responsible for the "musky" component ofaxillary (underarm)odor.[1][2][3] Androstadienol issynthesized frompregnenolone by the 16-ene-synthetase activity ofCYP17A1,[4] and is converted into androstadienone by3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase.[5] Male sweat contains approximately five times as much androstenone as does female sweat, which can be explained bysex differences in androstadienol and androstadienone production.[1][2]
Androstadienone, which is produced from androstadienol, has been found to affect brain activity.[6] Specifically, it has been found to activate thehypothalamus, most maximally the medial preoptic and anterior hypothalamic areas, inheterosexual women andhomosexual men, but not in heterosexual men (who instead experienced hypothalamic activation in response to smellingestratetraenol, anestrogen-related pheromone, while heterosexual women and homosexual men did not).[6] It has also been found to activate the anterior area of the inferior lateralprefrontal cortex, thesuperior temporal cortex, andolfactory areas.[6] The affected brain areas are thought to be involved insexual behavior,attention,visual perception/recognition, andsocial cognition.[6]
