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Sex Steroid Receptor Sensitivity

Meaning

Sex Steroid Receptor Sensitivity refers to the degree of responsiveness of target cells and tissues to circulating sex hormones, such as testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone, which is determined by the density and binding affinity of their specific nuclear or membrane receptors. A high sensitivity means a strong biological response is elicited even by modest hormone levels, whereas low sensitivity, often due to receptor downregulation or genetic polymorphism, requires higher hormone concentrations for the same effect. This sensitivity is a key, often overlooked, determinant of hormonal efficacy at the tissue level.