POMC and classic congenital adrenal hyperplasia due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency: Some androgens (testosterone, androstenedione, dehydroepiandrosterone – DHEA) are produced in the adrenal zona reticularis in both sexes.In 21-hydroxylase deficiency cortisol production is decreased, therefore the corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) from the hypothalamus and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from the pituitary are increased via a negative feedback loop.