Endocrinology & Diabetes

Steroid Hormones and Receptors

Steroid hormone may be a steroid that is a hormone. It is often divided into two groups: corticosteroids and sex steroids. Within these two classes, they're five types consistent with their receptors: glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, androgens, estrogen and progestogens. In physical body, steroid hormones play a crucial part in metabolism, inflammation, immune functions, salt and water balance, development of sexual characteristics and therefore the ability of withstanding illness and injury. The natural steroid hormones are generally synthesized from cholesterol within the gonads and adrenal glands. These hormones are lipophilic substance. They will undergo the cell wall as they're fat-soluble, then bind to steroid receptors (which could also be nuclear or cytosolic counting on the steroid hormone) to cause changes within the cell. Steroid hormones are generally carried within the blood, sure to specific carrier proteins like sex hormone-binding globulin, corticosteroid-binding globulin and albumin. The binding is useful to assist improve the hormones’ solubility in water.