HORMONES

DR. SAMIA ISHFAQ

HORMONES
• “Hormones are chemicals synthesized and produced by the specialized
glands to control and regulate the activity of certain cells and organs. These
specialized glands are known as endocrine glands.”
CLASSIFICATION OF HORMONES
Hormones can be classified chemically into three major groups
• 1. Steroid hormones: These are steroid in nature such as adrenocorticosteroid
hormones, androgens, estrogens and progesterone.
• 2. Amino acid derivatives: These are derived from amino acid tyrosine, e.g.
epinephrine, norepinephrine and thyroid hormones.
• 3. Peptide/Protein hormones: These are either large proteins or small or
medium size peptides, e.g. Insulin, glucagon, parathormone, calcitonin,
pituitary hormones, etc.
• Inositol trisphosphate IP3
• diacylglycerol (DAG)
• protein kinase A (PKA)
• Adenylyl cyclase is the sole enzyme to synthesize cyclic AMP
(cAMP), a key second messenger that regulates diverse
physiological responses including sugar and lipid metabolism,
olfaction, and cell growth and differentiation.
• Phospholipases are lipolytic enzymes
Function of Peptide Hormones
• Peptide hormones play a prominent role in controlling energy
homeostasis and metabolism. They have been implicated in
controlling appetite, the function of the gastrointestinal and
cardiovascular systems, energy expenditure, and reproduction.
Function of Steroid Hormones
• Steroid hormones are a group of hormones derived from cholesterol
that act as chemical messengers in the body. The steroid
hormones regulate many physiologic processes, including the
development and function of the reproductive system.