Nongenomic actions of steroid hormones.

The genomic theory of steroid action has dominated research in the field over the past 4 decades. Despite early observations on rapid steroid effects being clearly incompatible with this theory, only recently has immediate steroid action been more widely recognized and is summarized here, with the emphasis on aldosterone. Further evidence for nongenomic steroid effects is also gathered rapidly for various groups of other steroids, such as neurosteroids, vitamin D(3), and estrogens.