Shown also is the major classes of steroid hormones: progestagens, mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids, androgens and estrogens. However, they partly overlap, e.g. mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids. White circles indicate changes in molecular structure compared with precursors. For more information on interpretation of molecular structures, see structural formula.

HSD: Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

References:

• Boron WF, Boulpaep EL (2003) Medical Physiology: A Cellular And Molecular Approach, Elsevier/Saunders, pp. page 1,300 ISBN: 1-4160-2328-3.
• For the absence of conversion of corticosterone to cortisol: Steroid hormone biosynthesis Reference pathway (KO). KEGG: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. Kyoto University Bioinformatics Center. (1 November 2013).

There is no appreciable conversion of corticosterone to cortisol in the adrenal cortex as 21-OH steroids are poor substrates for 17-alpha hydroxylase.

Further reading:

• Hanukoglu I (1992). "Steroidogenic enzymes: structure, function, and role in regulation of steroid hormone biosynthesis". The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 43 (8): 779–804. DOI:10.1016/0960-0760(92)90307-5. PMID 22217824.
• Payne AH, Hales DB (2004). "Overview of steroidogenic enzymes in the pathway from cholesterol to active steroid hormones". Endocrine Reviews 25 (6): 947–70. DOI:10.1210/er.2003-0030. PMID 15583024.

See also:

• Wikiversity:Diagram of the pathways of human steroidogenesis