Steroid hormones are the second largest groups of hormones. They are made up of small cholestrol units and are fat soluble, therefore they can pass easily through cell membranes.
Function:
They have roles in many vital functions of our body such as salt and water balance, formation of sexual traits,immunity related functions,metabolism and improving health by withstanding injuries.
Mode of action:
Steroids being hormones can effect the processes of body in two ways: They affect the transcription of genes involved in synthesis of certain proteins- this is called genomic level action.
They can affect by binding with specific membrane receptors like G-proteins, Ion channels and transporters- non genomic level function. Through these ways, they can affect many mechanisms occurring inside the cell.
