Steroid hormone: Facts, Discussion Forum, and Encyclopedia Article

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Steroid hormone

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	Steroid hormone
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	Topics Steroid hormone Topic Home Steroid hormones are steroidSteroid A steroid is a lipid characterized by a carbon skeleton with four fused rings.... s which act as hormoneHormone A hormone is a chemical messenger from one cell to another.... s. Mammalian steroid hormones can be grouped into five groups by the receptorReceptor (biochemistry) In biochemistry, a receptor is a protein on the cell membrane or within the cytoplasm or cell nucleus that binds to a specif... s to which they bind: glucocorticoidGlucocorticoid Glucocorticoids are a class of steroid hormones characterised by an ability to bind with the cortisol receptor and trigger s... s, mineralocorticoidMineralocorticoid Mineralocorticoids is a class of steroids characterised by their similarity to aldosterone and their influence on salt and... s, androgenAndrogen Androgen is the generic term for any natural or synthetic compound, usually a steroid hormone, that stimulates or controls t... s, estrogenEstrogen Estrogens are a group of steroid compounds, named for their importance in the oestrus cycle, functioning as the primary fem... s, and progestagenProgestagen Progestagens are hormones which produce effects similar to progesterone, the only natural progestagen.... s. Vitamin DVitamin D Vitamin D is a hormone precursor that contributes to the maintenance of normal levels of calcium and phosphorus in the bloo... derivatives are a sixth closely related hormone system with homologous receptors, though technically sterolSterol Sterols, or steroid alcohols are a subgroup of steroids with a hydroxyl group in the 3-position of the A-ring.... s rather than steroids. Overview The natural steroid hormones are generally synthesized from cholesterolCholesterol Cholesterol is a sterol and a lipid found in the cell membranes of all body tissues, and transported in the blood plasma of... in the gonadGonad The gonad is the organ that makes gametes.... s and adrenal glandAdrenal gland In mammals, the adrenal glands are the triangle-shaped endocrine glands that sit atop the kidneys; their name indicates tha... s. These forms of hormones are lipids. They can enter the cell membrane quite easily and enter right into the nuclei. Steroid hormones are generally carried in the blood bound to specific carrier proteinProtein Proteins are large organic compounds made of amino acids arranged in a linear chain and joined by peptide bonds.... s such as sex hormone binding globulin or corticosteroid binding globulin. Further conversions and catabolism occurs in the liver, other "peripheral" tissues, and in the target tissues. Because steroids and sterols are lipidLipid Lipids are a class of hydrocarbon-containing organic compounds essential for the structure and function of living cells.... soluble, they can diffuseDiffusion Diffusion, being the spontaneous spreading of matter , heat, or momentum, is one type of transport phenomenon.... fairly freely from the blood through the cell membraneCell membrane A cell membrane, plasma membrane or plasmalemma is a selectively permeable lipid bilayer coated by proteins whi... and into the cytoplasmCytoplasm Cytoplasm is a jelly-like material that fills cells.... of target cells. In the cytoplasm the steroid may or may not undergo an enzymeEnzyme Enzymes are proteins that accelerate, or catalyze, chemical reactions.... -mediated alteration such as reduction, hydroxylation, or aromatization. In the cytoplasm, the steroid binds to the specific receptor, a large metalloprotein. Upon steroid binding, many kinds of steroid receptor dimerizeDimer Overview A dimer is a chemical or biological entity consisting of two subunits called monomers, which are held together by either int... : two receptor subunits join together to form one functional DNADNA Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions for the biological development of a cellu... -binding unit that can enter the cell nucleusCell nucleus In cell biology, the nucleus is an organelle found in most eukaryotic cells.... . In some of the hormone systems known, the receptor is associated with a heat shock proteinHeat shock protein Heat shock proteins are a group of proteins whose expression is increased when the cells are exposed to elevated temperature... which is released on the binding of the ligandLigand In chemistry, a ligand is an atom, ion, or molecule that generally donates one or more of its electrons through a coordinat... , the hormone. Once in the nucleus, the steroid-receptor ligand complex binds to specific DNADNA Deoxyribonucleic acid is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions for the biological development of a cellu... sequences and induces transcription of its target geneGene A gene is the unit of heredity in living organisms.... s. Synthesis Synthetic steroids and sterols A variety of synthetic steroids and sterols have also been contrived. Most are steroids but some non-steroidal molecules can interact with the steroid receptors because of a similarity of shape. Some synthetic steroids are weaker, some much stronger, than the natural steroids whose receptors they activate. Some examples of synthetic steroid hormones: Glucocorticoids: prednisonePrednisone Overview Prednisone is a synthetic corticosteroid drug which is usually taken orally and can be used for a large number of different ... , dexamethasoneDexamethasone Dexamethasone is a potent synthetic member of the glucocorticoid class of steroid hormones.... , triamcinoloneTriamcinolone Triamcinolone is a synthetic corticosteroid given orally, by injection, inhalation, or as a topical cream.... Mineralocorticoid: fludrocortisoneFludrocortisone Fludrocortisone acetate is a synthetic corticosteroid with moderate glucocorticoid potency and much greater mineralocorticoi... Vitamin D: dihydrotachysterolDihydrotachysterol Dihydrotachysterol is a type of Vitamin D used as a medication.... Androgens: oxandroloneFacts About Oxandrolone Oxandrolone is an anabolic steroid created by Searle Laboratories under the trademark Anavar, and introduced into the ... , nandroloneNandrolone Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid occurring naturally in the human body, albeit in small quantities.... (also known as anabolic steroidAnabolic steroid Anabolic androgenic steroids are a class of natural and synthetic steroid hormones that promote cell growth and division, r... s) Estrogens: diethylstilbestrolDiethylstilbestrol Diethylstilbestrol is a drug, a synthetic estrogen that was developed to supplement a woman's natural estrogen production.... (DES) Progestins: norethindrone, medroxyprogesterone acetate External links Steroidogenic enzymes: