"A hormone is a class of signaling molecules in multicellular organisms that are sent to distant organs by complex biological processes to regulate physiology and behavior."
Understanding the production, regulation, and functions of hormones in the body and their role in maintaining homeostasis.
Anatomy and Physiology of the Endocrine System: The study of the endocrine system and its various organs and how they function.
Hormone Biosynthesis and Metabolism: The study of the chemical reactions that occur within the body to produce hormones and their metabolism.
Hormone Control Mechanisms: The study of the various mechanisms that control hormone release including negative feedback, positive feedback, and hormone-stimulating signals.
Hormone Signaling Pathways: The study of the various signaling pathways that hormones use to interact with different cells and tissues throughout the body.
Hormones and Homeostasis: The study of how hormones regulate various bodily functions and maintain a state of homeostasis.
Hormones and Development: The study of how hormones influence growth and development during fetal and postnatal periods.
Hormones and Behavior: The study of how hormones influence behavior, mood, and emotions.
Hormones and Disease: The study of how hormones contribute to the development and progression of various diseases such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, and Cushing's syndrome.
Hormone Replacement Therapy: The study of how hormone replacement therapy can be used to treat various diseases and conditions.
Hormones and Aging: The study of how hormones change with age and how this impacts overall health and wellness.
Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH): Produced by the pituitary gland and stimulates the adrenal cortex to produce cortisol.
Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH): Produced by the pituitary gland and stimulates the thyroid gland to produce thyroid hormone.
Prolactin: Produced by the anterior pituitary gland and stimulates milk production in mammary glands.
Growth hormone (GH): Produced by the pituitary gland and promotes growth and development in children and adolescents.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH): Produced by the pituitary gland and stimulates the growth of ovarian follicles in females and sperm production in males.
Luteinizing hormone (LH): Produced by the pituitary gland and stimulates ovulation in females and testosterone production in males.
Insulin: Produced by the pancreas and lowers blood glucose levels by promoting glucose uptake into cells.
Glucagon: Produced by the pancreas and raises blood glucose levels by promoting the breakdown of glycogen in the liver.
Estrogen: Produced by the ovaries and promotes the development of female sexual characteristics.
Progesterone: Produced by the ovaries and helps prepare the uterus for pregnancy.
Testosterone: Produced by the testes and promotes the development of male sexual characteristics.
Cortisol: Produced by the adrenal cortex and helps regulate metabolism and the body's response to stress.
Aldosterone: Produced by the adrenal cortex and helps regulate blood pressure by promoting sodium reabsorption in the kidneys.
Parathyroid hormone (PTH): Produced by the parathyroid glands and regulates calcium and phosphate in the blood.
Calcitonin: Produced by the thyroid gland and helps regulate blood calcium levels by promoting calcium deposition in bone.
Melatonin: Produced by the pineal gland and regulates sleep-wake cycles.
Thymosin: Produced by the thymus gland and helps regulate immune function.
Erythropoietin: Produced by the kidneys and stimulates the production of red blood cells.
Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP): Produced by the heart and helps regulate blood volume and blood pressure.
Leptin: Produced by adipose tissue and helps regulate appetite and metabolism.
Ghrelin: Produced by the stomach and stimulates appetite.
Vasopressin (antidiuretic hormone or ADH): Produced by the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland to regulate water balance and blood pressure.
Oxytocin: Produced by the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland to stimulate uterine contractions during childbirth and milk ejection during breastfeeding.
Somatostatin: Produced by the hypothalamus and regulates the release of other hormones.
"Among the substances that can be considered hormones are eicosanoids (e.g. prostaglandins and thromboxanes), steroids (e.g. oestrogen and brassinosteroid), amino acid derivatives (e.g. epinephrine and auxin), protein or peptides (e.g. insulin and CLE peptides), and gases (e.g. ethylene and nitric oxide)."
"In vertebrates, hormones are responsible for regulating a variety of physiological processes and behavioral activities such as digestion, metabolism, respiration, sensory perception, sleep, excretion, lactation, stress induction, growth and development, movement, reproduction, and mood manipulation."
"Hormones affect distant cells by binding to specific receptor proteins in the target cell, resulting in a change in cell function."
"When a hormone binds to the receptor, it results in the activation of a signal transduction pathway that typically activates gene transcription, resulting in increased expression of target proteins."
"Water-soluble hormones (such as peptides and amines) generally act on the surface of target cells via second messengers."
"Lipid-soluble hormones, such as steroids, generally pass through the plasma membranes of target cells to act within their nuclei."
"In vertebrates, endocrine glands are specialized organs that secrete hormones into the endocrine signaling system."
"Hormone secretion occurs in response to specific biochemical signals and is often subject to negative feedback regulation."
"Upon secretion, water-soluble hormones are readily transported through the circulatory system."
"Lipid-soluble hormones must bind to carrier plasma glycoproteins to form ligand-protein complexes."
"Some hormones, such as insulin and growth hormones, can be released into the bloodstream already fully active."
"Other hormones, called prohormones, must be activated in certain cells through a series of steps that are usually tightly controlled."
"Plants lack specialized organs for the secretion of hormones, although there is spatial distribution of hormone production."
"The hormone auxin is produced mainly at the tips of young leaves and in the shoot apical meristem."
"The lack of specialized glands means that the main site of hormone production can change throughout the life of a plant, and the site of production is dependent on the plant's age and environment."
"Hormones modulate almost all aspects of development in plants, from germination to senescence."
"Brassinosteroids, a type of polyhydroxysteroids, are a sixth class of plant hormones and may be useful as an anticancer drug for endocrine-responsive tumors to cause apoptosis and limit plant growth."
"The exocrine system secretes its hormones indirectly using ducts."
"Hormones with paracrine function diffuse through the interstitial spaces to nearby target tissue."