Final answer:
Researchers have discovered that some cells have additional steroid hormone receptors on their intracellular receptors enabling a faster response.
Step-by-step explanation:
Steroid hormones, such as estrogen and cortisol, have additional receptors on their intracellular receptors located in the cytoplasm or nucleus of target cells. These receptors allow steroid hormones to pass through the plasma membrane and influence gene expression.
When the hormone binds to the receptor, it forms a complex that moves into the nucleus and binds to specific segments of DNA, triggering the transcription of target genes into mRNA. This mRNA then directs the synthesis of specific proteins. So therefore steroid hormones have intracellular receptors that allow them to pass through the plasma membrane and influence gene expression in target cells.