W25/L2 Flashcards
What are our sources of steroids?
Dietary
Synthesis from Acetyl CoA
What is the most abundant steroid?
Cholesterol
Where in the body is cholesterol found (physiologically)
Free in membranes
Stores as esters (liver & lipoproteins)
What 2 groups fall into the corticosteroids?
Glucocorticoids
Mineralocorticoids
What’s the main glucocorticoid?
Cortisol
What’s he main mineralocorticoid?
Aldosterone
What’s the broad role of glucocorticoids?
Regulation of metabolism & immune function
What’s the broad role of mineralocorticoids?
Maintenance of blood volume
Control of renal excretion of electrolytes
What are the key sex steroids families
Androgens
Estrogens
Progestagens
What is the broad role of sex steroids?
Producing sexual differences
Supporting reproduction
Where does synthesis of oestrogen and progesterone primarily occur
Ovary Placenta (during pregnancy)
Where is testosterone mostly made?
Testes
What is one way that the balance of testosterone and oestrogen is maintained in males & females?
Testosterone can be converted into oestrogen
What is one treatment strategy for breast cancer?
Block oestrogen
What is the oestrogen-blocking drug used for breast cancer?
Tamoxifen
