Mineralocorticoids is a class of steroids characterised by their similarity to aldosterone and their influence on salt and water metabolism. Steroid skeleton of lanosterol. ... Aldosterone is a steroid hormone synthesized from cholesterol by the enzyme aldosterone synthase. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with cell metabolism and carbohydrates. ...

Physiology

The primary endogenous mineralocorticoid is aldosterone, although a number of other endogenous hormones (including progesterone)and deoxycorticosterone have mineralocorticoid function. Aldosterone is a steroid hormone synthesized from cholesterol by the enzyme aldosterone synthase. ... Progesterone is a C-21 steroid hormone involved in the female menstrual cycle, pregnancy (supports gestation) and embryogenesis of humans and other species. ... Deoxycorticosterone Deoxycorticosterone is a steroid hormone produced by the adrenal gland that posses mineralocorticoid activity and acts as a precursor to aldosterone. ...

Aldosterone acts on the kidneys to provide active reabsorption of sodium and an associated passive reabsorption of water, as well as, the active secretion of potassium in the principle cells of the cortical collecting tubule and active secretion of protons via proton ATPases in the lumenal membrane of the intercalated cells of the collecting tubule. This in turn results in an increase of blood pressure and blood volume. General Name, Symbol, Number sodium, Na, 11 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 3, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 22. ... Water is a tasteless, odourless substance that is essential to all known forms of life and is known as the universal solvent. ... General Name, Symbol, Number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 39. ... In the kidney, the collecting tubule (CNT, or junctional tubule, or arcuate renal tubule) is a tubular segment of the renal collecting duct system that connects the distal convoluted tubule to the cortical collecting duct. ... In the kidney, the collecting tubule (CNT, or junctional tubule, or arcuate renal tubule) is a tubular segment of the renal collecting duct system that connects the distal convoluted tubule to the cortical collecting duct. ...

Aldosterone is produced in the cortex of the adrenal gland and its secretion is mediated by adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH or corticotropin) is a polypeptide hormone secreted from corticotropes in the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland in response to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) released by the hypothalamus. ...

Mode of Action

Mineralocorticoids bind to the cytosolic mineralocorticoid receptor. This type of receptor gets activated upon ligand binding. After a hormone binds to the corresponding receptor, the newly formed receptor-ligand complex translocates itself into the cell nucleus, where it binds to many hormone response elements (HRE) in the promoter region of the target genes in the DNA. The mineralocorticoid receptor (MR, MLR, MCR), also aldosterone receptor, is officially labelled nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 2, (NR3C2) and is a receptor with high affinity for mineralocorticoids. ... In biochemistry, a receptor is a protein on the cell membrane or within the cytoplasm or cell nucleus that binds to a specific molecule (a ligand), such as a neurotransmitter, hormone, or other substance, and initiates the cellular response to the ligand. ... In chemistry, a ligand is an atom, ion, or molecule (see also: functional group) that generally donates one or more of its electrons through a coordinate covalent bond to, or shares its electrons through a covalent bond with, one or more central atoms or ions (these ligands act as a... Synthesis of copper(II)-tetraphenylporphine, a metal complex, from tetraphenylporphine and copper(II) acetate monohydrate. ... The eukaryotic cell nucleus. ... HRE is a three-letter abbreviation which may represent any of the following: Harare International Airport (IATA airport code: HRE) Holy Roman Empire Holy Roman Emperor Hormone response element Hre people and language of Vietnam HRE, a level of the hardness of metallic materials on the Rockwell scale Category: ... In genetics, a promoter is a DNA sequence that enables a gene to be transcribed. ... This stylistic schematic diagram shows a gene in relation to the double helix structure of DNA and to a chromosome (right). ... The general structure of a section of DNA Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is a nucleic acid that contains the genetic instructions for the biological development of a cellular form of life or a virus. ...

The opposite mechanism is called transrepression. The activated hormone receptor interacts with specific transcription factors and prevents the transcription of targeted genes. A repressor is a DNA-binding protein that regulates the expression of one or more genes by decreasing the rate of transcription. ... A hormone receptor is a receptor protein on the surface of a cell that binds to a specific hormone. ... Transcription is the process through which a DNA sequence is enzymatically copied by an RNA polymerase to produce a complementary RNA. Or, in other words, the transfer of genetic information from DNA into RNA. In the case of protein-encoding DNA, transcription is the beginning of the process that ultimately...

Aldosterone and cortisol have similar affinity for the mineralocorticoid receptor however, glucocorticoids circulate at roughly 100 times the level of mineralocorticoids. An enzyme exists in mineralocorticoid target tissues to prevent overstimulation by glucocorticoids. This enzyme, 11-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type II(Protein:HSD11B2), catalyzes the deactivation of glucocorticoids to 11-dehydro metabolites. Licorice is known to be an inhibitor of this enzyme and chronic consumption can result in a condition known as pseudohyperaldosteronism. Cortisol is a corticosteroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex that is involved in the response to stress; it increases blood pressure, blood sugar levels, may cause infertility in women, and suppresses the immune system. ... Species Glycyrrhiza acanthocarpa Glycyrrhiza aspera Glycyrrhiza astragalina Glycyrrhiza bucharica Glycyrrhiza echinata Glycyrrhiza eurycarpa Glycyrrhiza foetida Glycyrrhiza glabra Glycyrrhiza iconica Glycyrrhiza korshinskyi Glycyrrhiza lepidota Glycyrrhiza pallidiflora Glycyrrhiza triphylla Glycyrrhiza uralensis Glycyrrhiza yunnanensis Ref: ILDIS Version 6. ... Pseudohyperaldosteronism or Liddles syndrome is a condition caused by the chronic excessive ingestion of licorice. ...

Pathophysiology

Hyperaldosteronism (the syndrome caused by elevated aldosterone) generally results from adrenal neoplasms. The two main resulting problems:

1. Hypertension and edema due to excessive Na+ and water retention.
2. Accelerated excretion of potassium ions. With extreme K+ loss there is muscle weakness and eventually paralysis.

Underproduction, or hypoaldosteronism, leads to the salt-wasting state associated with Addison's disease, although classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia and other disease states may also cause this situation. For other forms of hypertension see hypertension (disambiguation). ... Edema (American English) or oedema (British English), formerly known as dropsy or hydropsy, is swelling of any organ or tissue due to accumulation of excess lymph fluid, without an increase of the number of cells in the affected tissue. ... General Name, Symbol, Number potassium, K, 19 Chemical series alkali metals Group, Period, Block 1, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 39. ... Addisons disease (also known as chronic adrenal insufficiency, or hypocortisolism) is a rare endocrine disorder which results in the body not producing sufficient amounts of certain adrenal hormones. ... Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) refers to any of several autosomal recessive diseases resulting from defects in steps of the synthesis of cortisol from cholesterol by the adrenal glands. ...

Pharmacology

An example of synthetic mineralocorticoids is fludrocortisone (Florinef®). Important mineralocorticoid inhibitors are spironolactone and eplerenone. Fludrocortisone acetate is a synthetic corticosteroid with moderate glucocorticoid potency and much greater mineralocorticoid potency. ... Spironolactone (marketed as Aldactone or Spiritone) is a synthetic 17-lactone steroid which is a renal competitive aldosterone antagonist in a class of pharmaceuticals called potassium-sparing diuretics, used primarily to treat low-renin hypertension, hypokalemia, and Conns syndrome. ...