Table 1:
Some non-reproductive actions of steroid hormones
| Estrogen | Progesterone | Testosterone | |
| Brain | ↑Mu-opioid receptor availability | Anxiolytic | Analgesic |
| ↑Hippocampal excitability | Sedative | ↑↓seizure threshold | |
| ↑5-HT | Analgesic | ↑Noradrenaline | |
| ↓Noradrenaline | Anticonvulsant | Mediate aggressive behaviour | |
| ↑↓anxiety/stress | Modulate GABA | Organisational effects on sexually dimorphic behaviours | |
| Promote myelination | |||
| Mediate male aggression towards infants | Modulate endogenous opioids | ||
| Regulate aromatase activity | |||
| Spinal Cord | Modulate dorsal horn response to pain | Mediate hypersensitivity after nerve root damage | Modulate dorsal horn response in neuropathic pain |
| Neuroprotective | |||
| Peripheral Nerve | Sensitise uterine and cervical afferents ↑glutamatergic nociceptor activity | Neuroprotective | Facilitate release of ACh |
| Immune System | Δ T and B cell proliferation and phenotype | Anti-inflammatory | ↓cellular immune response |
| Δ cytokine and immunoglobulin balance | Modulate immune response | ||
| Musculoskeletal System | ↑bone deposition | ↑bone deposition | ↑bone density and strength |
| ↑muscle mass recovery following disuse | Smooth muscle relaxant | ↑muscle mass | |
| Cardiovascular System | Δ NO synthesis | ↑vasodilation | ↑vasoconstriction |
| Δ vasodilation |
Abbreviations: 5-HT, 5- hydroxytryptamine; ACh, acetylcholine; NO, nitric oxide