[Molecular mechanisms of steroid hormone action (author's transl)]

The present survey is an attempt to present a unifying model for the mechanism of action of steroid hormones. Out of an overwhelming body of experimental observations with various cell and hormone systems a few representative examples are presented. The following sequence of events is outlined: a) penetration of the steroid hormone into target cells, b) binding to the active conformation of a specific cytoplasmic receptor, c) activation of the receptor-steroid complex, d) binding of the activated complex to chromatin, e) regulation of specific RNA and protein syntheses and by that means expression of target cell specific responses. Some effects of steroid hormones, however, cannot be explained by this model of steroid hormone action.