Synthesis of Testosterone

Testosterone is the primary sex hormone and anabolic steroid in males. In humans, testosterone plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues such as testes and prostate, as well as promoting secondary sexual characteristics such as increased muscle and bone mass and the growth of body hair.
Testosterone is a steroid from the androstane class containing a ketone and a hydroxyl group at positions three and seventeen respectively. In humans and most other vertebrates, testosterone is secreted primarily by the testicles of males and from ovaries of females in lesser extent.

IUPAC Name of Testosterone

17β-Hydroxyandrost-4-en-3-one

Biosynthesis of Testosterone

Testosterone can biosynthesizes from Cholesterol and from Dehydroepiandrosterone. Both biosynthesis are given below-

Synthesis of Testosterone from Cholesterol

Synthesis of Testosterone from Dehydroepiandrosterone

This synthesis was done by Mamoli in 1938. They converted dehydroepiandrosterone into testosterone by means of micro-organisms; the first stage uses an oxidising yeast in the presence of oxygen, and the second stage fermenting yeast.