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Steroid Hormone Action

Meaning

Steroid Hormone Action describes the precise molecular and cellular mechanisms by which lipid-soluble steroid hormones exert their profound biological effects on target tissues. Since these hormones, such as cortisol, testosterone, and estradiol, are derived from cholesterol, they readily cross the cell membrane to interact with specific intracellular receptors, either in the cytoplasm or the nucleus. This interaction directly modulates gene expression, leading to the synthesis of new proteins that ultimately mediate the hormone’s physiological response. Steroid hormones are master regulators of growth, metabolism, and reproduction.