What is the Origin of Steroidal Hormones?

The term is derived from 'Steroid,' referring to their common chemical structure based on the four-ring steroid nucleus, and 'Hormone,' from the Greek hormao meaning I excite or set in motion. The discovery of these compounds and their role in human biology was a major advancement in endocrinology, explaining the chemical basis of sexual differentiation and stress adaptation. Their synthesis from cholesterol links them directly to dietary and metabolic health status.

What is the Mechanism of Steroidal Hormones?

The mechanism of action is primarily genomic, meaning they regulate gene activity within the cell nucleus. Once a steroidal hormone enters a target cell, it binds to a specific intracellular receptor protein, forming a hormone-receptor complex. This complex then translocates to the cell nucleus and binds to specific DNA sequences, known as hormone response elements (HREs), either activating or repressing the transcription of target genes. This direct modulation of gene expression leads to long-lasting changes in cellular protein synthesis and function.

Steroidal Hormones

Meaning

Steroidal Hormones are a class of lipid-soluble signaling molecules synthesized primarily from cholesterol in the adrenal glands, gonads, and placenta. These essential endocrine messengers include sex hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone, as well as glucocorticoids like cortisol and mineralocorticoids like aldosterone. Because of their lipophilic nature, they readily cross cell membranes to bind to intracellular receptors, directly influencing gene expression and driving fundamental physiological processes related to metabolism, inflammation, stress response, and sexual development. They are critical for maintaining systemic homeostasis.