Long-term control of neuronal excitability by corticosteroid hormones.

Hippocampal CA1 neurons express both mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors. Due to the difference in affinity of the two receptor types for corticosterone and variations in endogenous steroid levels, occupation of the receptors will range between a situation of predominant mineralocorticoid receptor activation and conditions where both receptor types are occupied. It was observed that local signal transduction is regulated by activation of the corticosteroid receptors.