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Hormonal Receptor Sensitivity

Meaning

Hormonal Receptor Sensitivity describes the degree of cellular responsiveness to a specific circulating hormone, determined by the quantity, affinity, and functional integrity of the receptor proteins located on or within the target cell. This parameter is often more clinically relevant than the mere concentration of a hormone, as a cell with high sensitivity can respond robustly to lower hormone levels, while low sensitivity leads to a muted response even with high concentrations. Optimizing this sensitivity is a key therapeutic goal in functional endocrinology.