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11-Deoxycortisol

Cortexolone, also known as cortodoxone or 11-deoxycortisol, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as 21-hydroxysteroids. These are steroids carrying a hydroxyl group at the 21-position of the steroid backbone. Thus, cortexolone is considered to be a steroid molecule. Cortexolone is an endogenous glucocorticoid steroid hormone, and a metabolic intermediate in the synthesis of cortisol. It was first described by Tadeusz Reichstein in 1938 and named as Substance S. It has also been referred to as Reichstein's Substance S or Compound S. Cortexolone acts as a glucocorticoid, though it is less potent than cortisol. Cortexolone is synthesized from 17α-hydroxyprogesterone by 21-hydroxylase and is converted to cortisol by 11β-hydroxylase. As a result, the level of cortexolone is often measured in patients to diagnose impaired cortisol synthesis, to identify any enzyme deficiency that may be causing impairment along the pathway to cortisol, and to differentiate adrenal disorders. Cortexolone in mammals has limited biological activity and mainly acts as metabolic intermediate within the glucocorticoid pathway, leading to cortisol. On the other hand, in sea lampreys, cortexolone is the major glucocorticoid, with mineralocorticoid activity. Cortexolone in sea lampreys binds to specific corticosteroid receptors and is involved in intestinal osmoregulation and in sea lamprey at metamorphosis, a process in which they develop seawater tolerance before downstream migration.