Molecular Determinants of Glucocorticoid Receptor Function and Tissue Sensitivity to Glucocorticoids

摘要: I. Introduction STEROID hormones are essential constituents of the intercellular communication system that maintains homeostasis in higher organisms. Glucocorticoids, a major subclass steroid hormones, modulate large number metabolic, cardiovascular, immune, and behavioral functions (for review see Refs. 1 2). Glucocorticoids produced by adrenal cortex under regulatory influence ACTH. The latter is corticotrophs anterior pituitary, turn, hypothalamic CRH arginine vasopressin (AVP). hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis kept balance negative feedback effects cortisol on secretion ACTH, CRH, usually, to lesser extent, AVP. In resting state, basal levels AVP, released pulsatile circadian fashion. At these baseline levels, main function sustain normoglycemia prevent arterial hypotension. Whether what extent...