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Updated: Aug 22, 2026

Primary Culture of Rat Adrenocortical Cells and Assays of Steroidogenic Functions
Published on: March 12, 2019
Role of enzymes and tissue-specific actions of steroids
1Endocrinology and Metabolic Medicine, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital, London W21NY, UK. m.reed@ic.ac.uk
Abstract:
Enzymes, such as steroid sulphatase, sulphotransferases and 17 beta-hydroxydehydrogenases, are important in regulating the tissue-specific actions of steroids. These enzymes can exist in different isoforms in different tissues and can be regulated by tissue-specific promoters and factors such as cytokines, prostaglandins and growth factors. The activity of these enzymes and the mechanisms by which they are regulated may help to account for some of the tissue-specific effects of the hormone replacement therapy drug tibolone, which has oestrogenic effects on the bone but not on the breast or endometrium.
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