Hormone

This article is a stub. As such, it may contain incomplete or wrong information. You can help by expanding it.

A hormone is a chemical released by a cell, a gland, or an organ in one part of the body that affects cells in other parts of the organism. Generally, only a small amount of hormone is required to alter cell metabolism. In essence, it is a chemical messenger that transports a signal from one cell to another.

A variety of exogenous chemical compounds, both natural and synthetic, have hormone-like effects on both humans and wildlife. Their interference with the synthesis, secretion, transport, binding, action, or elimination of natural hormones in the body can change the homeostasis, reproduction, development, and/or behavior, just as endogenously produced hormones do.

Types of Hormone

Hormones can be classified as one of three different types, shown below with examples:

• Peptide hormones: angiotensin II, growth hormone (also known as somatotropin or hGH/HGH), insulin
• Steroid hormones: cortisol, corticosterone, estradiol, dihydrotestosterone, progesterone, testosterone
• Monoamines: tryptamine, dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline, melatonin

Toxicity and harm potential

Table from the 2010 ISCD study ranking various drugs (legal and illegal) based on statements by drug-harm experts. Anabolic steroids was found to be the 15th overall most dangerous drug.

See also

• Responsible use
• Neurotransmitter
• Receptor

External links

• Hormone (Wikipedia)

References

This article does not cite enough references. You can help by adding some.