Androsterone

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A hormone classified as an androgen, found in both genders, that contributes to the manifestation of masculine traits and affects metabolic processes
2. This steroid, primarily sourced from testosterone, plays a pivotal role in regulating body composition and behavioral attributes
3. A hormone associated with male characteristics, which is produced in both males and females, impacting various metabolic functions and physiological traits

Etymology: Androsterone was first isolated in 1931 by the German chemist Adolf Butenandt, who extracted it from several tons of human urine, a feat that earned him a share of the 1939 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. The name is a compound of Greek roots: "andr-", meaning "man" (as in "android" and "androgynous"), joined to "-sterone," the ending chemists gave to steroid ketones, itself built from "sterol," from "stereos" ("solid") plus the alcohol suffix. Together the name says roughly "man-steroid ketone," reflecting the fact that it was found in male urine and was among the first androgens, the class of hormones responsible for male characteristics.

Synonyms: steroid hormone