Part of “CHAPTER 73 – CORTICOSTEROID ACTION“

In order of decreasing potency, the mineralocorticoids include aldosterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone, 18-oxocortisol, corticosterone, and cortisol. As a class of hormones, they have more specific actions than the glucocorticoids. Their major function is to maintain intravascular volume by conserving sodium and eliminating potassium and hydrogen ions. They exert these actions in kidney, gut, and salivary and sweat glands. In addition, aldosterone may have distinct effects in other tissues. Mineralocorticoid receptors are found in the heart and vascular endothelium,43 and aldosterone increases myocardial fibrosis.44 Such receptors are also found in the brain (see earlier); although they are occupied predominantly by glucocorticoids in some regions of the brain, aldosterone has distinct effects in increasing salt hunger and blood pressure when administered into the cerebral ventricles.45