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A steroid is an organic compound with four fused rings (designated A, B, C, and D) arranged in a specific molecular configuration. Steroids have two principal biological functions: as important components of cell membranes that alter membrane fluidity; and as signaling molecules.
Steroid hormones help control metabolism, inflammation, immune functions, salt and water balance, development of sexual characteristics, and the ability to withstand injury and illness. The term steroid describes both hormones produced by the body and artificially produced medications that duplicate the action for the naturally occurring steroids.
Corticosteroids are a class of steroid hormones that are produced in the adrenal cortex of vertebrates, as well as the synthetic analogues of these hormones.Two main classes of corticosteroids, glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, are involved in a wide range of physiological processes, including stress response, immune response, and regulation of inflammation, carbohydrate metabolism ...
Glucocorticoids have numerous non-stress-related functions as well, and glucocorticoid concentrations can increase in response to pleasure or excitement. [4] Various synthetic glucocorticoids are available; these are widely utilized in general medical practice and numerous specialties , either as replacement therapy in glucocorticoid deficiency ...
The production of steroid hormones is called steroidogenesis, and involves a number of reactions and processes that take place in cortical cells. [5] The medulla produces the catecholamines, which function to produce a rapid response throughout the body in stress situations. [4] A number of endocrine diseases involve dysfunctions of the adrenal ...
The name mineralocorticoid derives from early observations that these hormones were involved in the retention of sodium, a mineral.The primary endogenous mineralocorticoid is aldosterone, although a number of other endogenous hormones (including progesterone [1] and deoxycorticosterone) have mineralocorticoid function.
A steroid hormone receptor is a protein molecule located either within the cell cytoplasm or nucleus that specifically binds to steroid hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, leading to the activation or suppression of gene expression and subsequent cellular responses. This interaction is crucial for mediating the ...
Steroid numbering. Steroid reductases. 5α-Reductase (1, 2, 3) – androgen and neurosteroid synthesis, progestogen metabolism; 5β-Reductase – androgen and progestogen metabolism, neurosteroid synthesis; Conjugation (and deconjugation) Glucuronosyltransferase – steroid metabolism [6] Glucuronidase (β-glucuronidase) – steroid synthesis [7]