Hormones
What are Hormones?
Hormone is a chemical substance that is produced in one part of the body (by an endocrine gland) and is carried in the blood to other distant organs or tissues where it acts to modify their structure or function. Some cells release hormones that induce a response in the neighboring cells (paracrine function), or sometimes the hormones can act on the cells they are released from (autocrine function).
For a cell to respond to a particular hormone it needs to have specific receptors for that hormone, and once the hormone binds to the receptor specific chemical pathways are activated that lead to a response.
Examples of hormones are corticosteroids (from the adrenal cortex), growth hormone (from the pituitary gland) and androgens (from the testes).
Types of Hormones
Refer to the drug classes listed below for further information.
- 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors
- adrenal cortical steroids
- adrenal corticosteroid inhibitors
- antiandrogens
- antidiuretic hormones
- antigonadotropic agents
- antithyroid agents
- aromatase inhibitors
- calcimimetics
- calcitonin
- estrogen receptor antagonists
- gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists
- growth hormone receptor blockers
- growth hormones
- insulin-like growth factors
- melanocortin receptor agonists
- miscellaneous hormones
- parathyroid hormone and analogs
- progesterone receptor modulators
- prolactin inhibitors
- selective estrogen receptor modulators
- sex hormones
- somatostatin and somatostatin analogs
- synthetic ovulation stimulants
- thyroid drugs
Further information
Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.