Endocrine Abstracts

Glucocorticoids are known to have significant and diverse effects on the cardiovascular system. They have been shown to foster hypertension indirectly due to enhanced vascular tone by potentiation of the vasocontrictor hormones and directly by action on vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). The local concentration of glucocorticoids in various tissue including vessels is determined by the enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type two (11HSD2) and 1 (11HSD1) that has bee...