Control of neuronal excitability by corticosteroid hormones.
The rat adrenal hormone corticosterone can cross the blood-brain barrier and bind to two intracellular receptor populations in the brain--the mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors. Recent studies have revealed that the corticosteroid hormones are able to restore changes in neuronal membrane properties induced by current or neurotransmitters, probably through a genomic action. In general, mineralocorticoid receptors mediate steroid actions that enhance cellular excitability, whereas activated glucocorticoid receptors can suppress temporarily raised neuronal activity. The steroid-mediated control of excitability and the implications for information processing in the brain are reviewed in this article.
Joëls
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M
Dept of Experimental Zoology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
de Kloet
E R
ER
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid