Steroid Receptors and Hypertension

Steroid hormones have an important role in regulation of blood pressure. Subtle differences in the molecular structure can enhance or diminish the ability of specific receptors to recognize a particular steroid and set in train a series of events involving DNA-dependent RNA and protein synthesis. This protein synthesis leads to physiological effects characteristic of different steroids. Steroid hormones have been classified into broad groupsandrogens, estrogens, progestins, glucocorticoids, and mineralocorticoids, and whereas a particular steroid may be potent in regard to one classification it may still have some of the other properties to a diminished extent. This 'multi' agonist property of steroid hormones is often overlooked. The broad classifications mentioned above have a structural basis but the nomenclature is largely derived from the specific property involved in simple tests devised to test potency. Studies in the sheep using a model of ACTH-induced hypertension have led us to suggest that some adrenocortical steroids may have the property of producing hypertension, but not by occupancy of one of the classical type of receptors described above. If a new major physiological effect is described, the question has to be faced as to whether or not a new type of receptor capable of transfer of the steroid to the nucleus with the usual sequelae leads to protein synthesis. Whether this is so or not, our sheep studies provide a strong case for a class of steroids capable of producing hypertension but not as a by-product of their mineralo- or glucocorticoid properties.