Question

What do steroid hormones do?

Answer 1

Steroid hormones are class of hormones derived from cholesterol and are secreted from the steroid glands e.g. adrenal cortex, testes and ovaries etc. Adrenal cortex produces 3 kinds of steroid hormones i) glucocorticoids ii) mineralocorticoids and iii) Adrenal androgens.

Functions:

1. Glucocorticoids i) helps in carbohydrate metabolism.

ii) It stimulates protein break down in muscle, lipolysis in adipose tissue and gluconeogenesis in liver.

iii) It helps in maintaining normal blood pressure and provide resistance to different kind of stresses.

iv) They act as antiinflammatory and immunosuppresive agents.

2. Minerelocorticoids like aldosterone regulate homeostatic balance between water and salt and maintain osmotic pressure and blood pressure .

3. Adrenal androgen helps in the development and maintainance of sexual characteristics in both males and females.