The mechanism of action of steroid hormones involves their interaction with tissue-specific binding sites, and results in a precise modulation of gene expression. Both high-affinity receptors and secondary binding sites exist for steroid hormones in target tissues. Only steroid-receptor complexes were, in several cases, clearly shown to directly regulate transcription by interacting with DNA re...

Although there are no literature data, which would clearly describe the role of catecholaminergic systems (including dopaminergic system) in the expression of the liver cytochrome P-450, there are well documented reports on physiological regulation of cytochrome P-450 by endogenous hormones (glucocorticoids, sex hormones, thyroid hormones, growth hormone, insulin) and by the immune system (cyto...

The steroid hormones 17beta-estradiol (estradiol) and progesterone not only regulate the reproductive system but have other central nervous system effects that can directly affect a variety of behaviors. Generally, estradiol has been shown to have activating effects, including the ability to increase seizure activity, while progesterone has been shown to have depressant effects, including antic...

Clinical studies indicate that clozapine and olanzapine carry a high risk of treatment-related metabolic dysfunction—including weight gain, hyperlipidemia, and glucose intolerance—but certain patients with high metabolic liabilities who take atypical antipsychotics do not necessarily develop these adverse effects. Though the underlying mechanism for atypical antipsychotic-related weight gain is...

For many pathologists, only pedantry can resolve the difference between the terms "histochemistry" and "cytochemistry". Moreover, the better known subject of histochemistry is not distinguished for its quantification. So it may come as some surprise, that the most sensitive bioassays, of polypeptide hormones, that are currently available and that are about one thousand times as sensitive as the...

Significant sex differences in the well-documented relationship between stress hormones and memory have emerged in recent studies. The potentiating effects of glucocorticoids on memory vary across the menstrual cycle, suggesting a potential interaction between these stress hormones and endogenously cycling sex hormones. Here, we show that memory for emotional materials changes significantly in ...

N ormal growth and development of the mammahan kidney are partly regulated by hormones, and administration of glucocorticoid hormones (GC) at specific times during development causes polycystic kidney disease (PKD) in a number ofanimal species (1). In inbred mice, where metanephrogenesis continues until about the 20th postnatal day (2), the “timewindow” for cyst induction by exogenous glucocort...

BACKGROUND Copeptin, a surrogate marker for arginin vasopressin production, is evaluated as an osmo-dependent stress and inflammatory biomarker in different diseases. We investigated copeptin during the menstrual cycle and its relationship to sex hormones, markers of subclinical inflammation and estimates of body fluid. METHODS In 15 healthy women with regular menstrual cycles, blood was draw...