A steroid hormone crosses the plasma membrane of a target cell and binds with a receptor inside the cell.

Where do steroid hormones bind to receptors?

In the cytoplasm, steroid hormones bind to receptors that form homodimers or heterodimers, migrate to the nucleus, and function as nuclear receptors and transcription factors.

Do steroid hormones bind to cell surface receptors?

Recent studies suggest that steroid hormones use receptors on cellular membranes both to gain access to the intracellular compartment and to modulate cellular functions. These interactions with cell-surface receptors have important physiological consequences.