Hormones are messengers that communicate between cells around the entire body, and are typically released into the blood to be distributed (thus their systemic effects). This is in contrast to communicative messengers that specifically target a cell, such as neurotransmitters, or paracrine messengers, which pass signals from a cell to other nearby cells.
Steroids are one example of hormones, and are usually cholesterol derivatives. The famous steroids you are familiar with are testosterone (which has several forms) and estrogen (which has several forms). Steroids are lipid-soluble, which means they can enter your cells through the plasma membrane without needing transporters. They then interface with systems inside of your cell, and typically will cause a formed complex to move from the cytoplasm to your nucleus, where they will interface with your DNA and begin promoting a specific gene or gene series.
Other hormones include modified amino acids, such as thyroid hormone, or proteins, like insulin.
In their definitions?
Hormones are messengers that communicate between cells around the entire body, and are typically released into the blood to be distributed (thus their systemic effects). This is in contrast to communicative messengers that specifically target a cell, such as neurotransmitters, or paracrine messengers, which pass signals from a cell to other nearby cells.
Steroids are one example of hormones, and are usually cholesterol derivatives. The famous steroids you are familiar with are testosterone (which has several forms) and estrogen (which has several forms). Steroids are lipid-soluble, which means they can enter your cells through the plasma membrane without needing transporters. They then interface with systems inside of your cell, and typically will cause a formed complex to move from the cytoplasm to your nucleus, where they will interface with your DNA and begin promoting a specific gene or gene series.
Other hormones include modified amino acids, such as thyroid hormone, or proteins, like insulin.