Corticosterone (CAS 50-22-6) is an endogenous steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex which exhibits affinity toward both glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptors Its mechanism of action involves serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase (SGK)-mediated phosphorylation of GDP dissociation inhibitor (GDI) at Ser-213 thereby promoting GDI-Rab4 complex assembly This activity enhances Rab4-dependent recycling of AMPA receptors to cortical neuron synapses leading to elevated synaptic excitatory responses Corticosterone thus serves as a useful biochemical tool for investigating stress-related modulation of synaptic transmission and plasticity