Figure 5.2 The mechanism by which steroid hormones act on target cells. A lipophilic hormone (e.g., steroid hormone) diffuses through the plasma membrane and binds to a cytoplasmic receptor (2). This hormone-receptor complex translocates to the nucleus, where it binds to hormone response elements on DNA that regulate the production of mRNA G) The outcome may either increase or decrease protein synthesis (4), which alters cellular activity (5)