Steroid hormone - Overview

The natural steroid hormones are generally synthesized from cholesterol in the gonads and adrenal glands. Steroid hormones are generally carried in the blood bound to specific carrier proteins such as sex hormone binding globulin or corticosteroid binding globulin. Further conversions and catabolism occurs in the liver, other "peripheral" tissues, and in the target tissues. Because steroids and sterols are lipid soluble, they can diffuse fairly freely from the blood through the cell membrane and into the cytoplasm of target cells. In ...

See also:

Steroid hormone, Steroid hormone - Overview, Steroid hormone - Synthesis, Steroid hormone - Principal natural human steroid hormones, Steroid hormone - Synthetic steroids and sterols

Read more here: » Steroid hormone: Encyclopedia II - Steroid hormone - Overview