Hormones .

Name and Description Origin Main Functions It controls several metabolic processes like glucose regulation and lipid catabolism, helps prevent diseases like atherosclerosis, obesity, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), etc. It enhances lipoprotein uptake into cortical cells so that more cholesterol is made available to the cells of the adrenal cortex. It promotes the transport of cholesterol into the mitochondria and stimulates its hydrolysis. It plays an important role in the synthesis and secretion of gluco- and mineralocorticosteroids and androgenic steroids. It promotes reabsorption of sodium in kidneys and increased blood volume, release of potassium and hydrogen through kidneys, increased water retention and rise in blood pressure levels. It promotes the production of estrogen in granulosa cells by supplying androstenedione substrate. It secretes aldosterone from adrenal cortex dipsogen, and causes vasoconstriction or the narrowing of the blood vessels. It secretes ACTH in anterior pituitary, causes vasoconstriction up to a moderate degree, and causes water retention in kidneys. It curbs the secretion of prolactin and TRH from anterior pituitary, and inhibits the development of the mullerian ducts into the uterus.

Adiponectin (Acrp30) (A type of protein)

Adipose tissue or body fat

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) (Important component of the hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal axis)

Anterior pituitary

Aldosterone (Steroid hormone)

Outer part of the adrenal cortex in the adrenal gland

Androstenedione (4-androstenedione and 17-ketoestosterone)

Adrenal glands and the gonads

Angiotensinogen and angiotensin (AGT)

Liver

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH) (vasopressin or arginine vasopressin)

Posterior pituitary

Antimullerian hormone (AMH) (a type of protein, also known as Mllerian inhibiting factor (MIF))

Testes

Atrial-natriuretic peptide (ANP)(Atriopeptin)

Heart

It enhances the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), leading to greater excretion of sodium and water, and enhances the release of free fatty acids from adipose tissue. It helps to lower blood pressure as it helps reduce systemic vascular resistance. It also lowers the level of blood water, sodium and fats. It is useful to know the vitamin D status, and promotes absorption of calcium from the gut. It lowers blood calcium levels by inhibiting calcium absorption in the intestines, and it also inhibits absorption of calcium by kidneys and thus promotes excretion of calcium through urine. It prevents osteoclast activity in bones and plays an important role in vitamin D regulation. It controls the transfer of calcium from blood to the urine by kidneys, enhances absorption of calcium from the gut into the blood and promotes the release of calcium into the blood from bone. It also inhibits the release of calcitonin. It promotes the release of digestive enzymes from the pancreas and bile from the gallbladder, plays the role of a hunger suppressant, it is associated with drug tolerance and is involved in exhibition of symptoms of drug withdrawal. It is responsible for proper digestion and satiety. It is released in response to stress, promotes the release of ACTH from anterior pituitary, determines the gestation period and triggers the onset of parturition and the timing of delivery.

Brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) (B-type natriuretic peptide) Calcidiol (25-hydroxyvitamin D3 or inactive form of vitamin D3)

Heart

Skin/proximal tubule of kidneys

Calcitonin (CT) (Active form of vitamin D3)

Thyroid gland

Calcitriol (1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3)

Skin/proximal tubule of kidneys

Cholecystokinin (CCK) (A peptide hormone)

Duodenum (first part of the small intestine)

Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) (corticoliberin, a polypeptide hormone and neurotransmitter)

Hypothalamus

Cortisol (a steroid hormone) (Glucocorticoid)

Adrenal cortex

It is produced in response to stress and decreased level of blood glucocorticoids. It regulates the metabolism of glucose, and suppresses the immune system. It promotes the metabolism of fat, protein and carbohydrate, it reduces bone formation. It also promotes maturation of the lungs of the fetus. It controls sodium loss through the small intestine and helps maintain the pH. It is a diuretic hormone which helps enhance gastric acid secretion and release of copper enzymes. It plays an important role in virilization (prenatal changes that determine the sex, postnatal changes leading to normal male puberty, and effects of too much androgen in girls or women) and anabolism (involves processes that lead to development of organs and tissues). It's responsible for male pattern baldness. It plays an important role in prostate growth (benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostate cancer) and differentiation. It determines your behavior, cognition and voluntary movement. It increases heart rate and blood pressure. It plays an important role in the psychological features like motivation, punishment and reward. It controls the sleep pattern, mood, concentration, working memory, and learning skills. It promotes smooth contraction of the stomach muscles. It is associated with the regulation of pain. It determines the 'flight or

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) (steroid hormone)

Testes, ovaries, kidneys

Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) (an androgen or male sex hormone)

The enzyme 5 reductase promotes the production of the hormone in the prostate, testes, hair follicles, and adrenal glands.

Dopamine (DPM/PIH/DA) (Prolactin inhibiting hormone)

Kidneys and hypothalamus.

Endothelin (A type of protein) Enkephalin (Endorphin) Epinephrine (EPI)

X cells of the stomach

Kidneys Adrenal medulla

(Adrenaline, a hormone and a neurotransmitter)

fight' response, enhances the supply of oxygen and glucose to the brain and muscles by increasing the heart rate and stroke volume, and enhances the catalysis of glycogen in liver, etc. It promotes relaxation/contraction of smooth muscles depending upon the tissue it acts upon. It also stimulates the breakdown of lipids in fat cells. It suppresses the activities of the immune system. Kidneys It enhances the production of erythrocytes (red blood cells). In males, it prevents apoptosis (programed cell death) of germ cells. In females, it plays an important role in blood coagulation, fluid balance, certain types of breast cancers, functioning of the lungs, health of blood vessels and skin, etc. It enhances fat burning activity, uterine and endometrial growth, bone formation, etc. It determines your height, helps lower muscle mass, and reduces bowel movement. It promotes protein synthesis and increases good cholesterol, triglyceride, cortisol, growth hormone, etc. It helps keep the uterus quiescent during pregnancy. It helps maintain the overall health, especially the health of postmenopausal women and keeps certain diseases away. Follicle-stimulating hormone function involves maturation of Graafian follicles in the ovaries. It promotes spermatogenesis and stimulates the production of androgen-binding protein in testes, in men. It governs the growth, onset of puberty and other reproductive processes

Erythropoietin (EPO) (glycoprotein hormone)

Estradiol (E2) (Sex hormone)

In males: Testes; In females: Ovaries

Estriol (E3) (sex hormone, a type of estrogen) Estrone (E1) (sex hormone, a type of estrogen)

Placenta during pregnancy

Ovary and adipose tissue

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)

Anterior pituitary gland

of the body. It stimulates the production of certain digestive enzymes like pepsin, promotes stomach contractions, enhances antral muscle mobility and secretion of gastric acid, triggers pancreatic secretions and emptying of gallbladder, etc. It stimulates your appetite and also regulates the release of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary gland. It raises blood glucose levels. It is released when blood glucose levels drop. It stimulates the process of conversion of stored glycogen into glucose in the liver. It triggers the release of FSH and LH (luteinizing hormone) from the anterior pituitary gland. It triggers cell reproduction and determines the growth and regeneration. It strengthens the bones by increasing calcium retention, helps maintain the function of pancreatic islets, it enhances protein synthesis, increases muscle mass and strengthens the immune system. It is responsible for the growth of the internal organs except brain. It also promotes the breakdown of lipids and hydrolysis of triglycerides.

Gastrin (GRP) (Peptide hormone)

Stomach, duodenum and pancreas

Ghrelin (counterpart of the hormone leptin)

Stomach, pancreas

Glucagon (GCG) (counterpart of the hormone insulin)

Pancreas

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (Luteinizing-hormonereleasing hormone)

Hypothalamus

Growth hormone (GH or hGH) (A peptide hormone)

Anterior Pituitary

Growth hormonereleasing hormone (GHRH) (growth-hormonereleasing factor (GRF or GHRF))

Hypothalamus

It triggers the release of growth hormone from the anterior pituitary gland.

Histamine (Also acts as a neurotransmitter)

Stomach

It stimulates the release of gastric acid. It also triggers the inflammatory responses of the body. It plays an important role in sleep regulation, erection and sexual function,

memory, and immune system disorders and allergies. It helps maintain the health of the corpus luteum during early pregnancy, leading to increased release of progesterone. Thus, it helps protect the fetus. It determines the severity of morning sickness in pregnant women. It carries anti-insulin properties. It raises maternal blood glucose levels and decreases maternal glucose utilization. It thus ensures adequate nutrition for the fetus. It increases insulin resistance and carbohydrate intolerance. It inhibits FSH production and secretion. It governs the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats, helps maintain blood glucose levels by promoting the absorption of glucose in the cells of liver, muscle, and fat tissues. Glucose is stored in the form of glycogen in the muscles and the liver. Insulin inhibits the release of glucagon and does not allow the body to use fat as an energy source. It is involved in several metabolic processes. It governs the growth and development of cells. Both insulin and IGF play an important role in aging. Studies show that IGF-1 is sometimes responsible for the development of both prostate and breast cancer cells. It decreases your appetite and increases the rate of metabolism. Leptin and ghrelin play an important role in weight management.

Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) (a glycoprotein hormone)

Placenta

Human placental lactogen (HPL) (human chorionic somatomammotropin)

Placenta

Inhibin (Counterpart of the hormone Activin)

Fetus, testes and ovaries

Insulin

Beta cells of the pancreas

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF or somatomedin)

Liver

Leptin (LEP) (Counterpart of the hormone Ghrelin)

Adipose tissue

Leukotriene (LT)

Eicosanoid lipid mediators

It stimulates contractions in the smooth muscles located in the lining of the trachea and is mainly involved in the inflammatory response of the body. It promotes the breakdown of lipids and triglycerides. It also stimulates the processes that lead to the production of steroids from cholesterol and transformation of a steroid to another steroid. It also encourages melanocytes to produce melanin. It regulates ovulation in females. In males, testosterone is produced in the testicles in the presence of this hormone. It controls your appetite and sexual arousal. It stimulates the melanocytes in skin and hair to produce and release more melanin. It works as an antioxidant and plays an important role in the circadian rhythms. It is released in darkness and causes drowsiness. It promotes several physiologic processes in the brain, like, regulation of memory, cognition, etc. It may lead to increased food intake and decreased physical activity. It determines the fight or flight response. Epinephrine and nonepinephrine are stress hormones and they increase heart and respiration rates. It is responsible for increased appetite, high energy level and stamina. It also controls wakefulness. It is essential for the release of breast milk. It also governs the contraction of muscles during orgasm. It regulates

Lipotropin (PRH)

Anterior pituitary

Luteinizing hormone (LH) (lutropin)

Anterior pituitary

Melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH or MSH) (Peptide hormone)

Internediate lobe of the pituitary

Melatonin (MT) (N-acetyl-5methoxytryptamine)

Pineal gland

Neuropeptide Y (NPY) (Acts as a neurotransmitter)

Hypothalamus

Norepinephrine (NRE) (Noradrenaline, acts as a neurotransmitter)

Adrenal medulla

Orexin (Hypocretin)

Hypothalamus

Oxytocin (OXT)

Posterior pituitary

body temperature, determines the activity level and governs wakefulness. It helps the pancreas in the secretion activities, regulates glycogen levels in the liver and gastrointestinal secretions. It plays an important role in maintaining blood calcium levels and promotes calcium reabsorption in kidneys. It lowers blood phosphate and activates vitamin D. It regulates the menstrual cycle and supports pregnancy. It also promotes thyroid function and bone growth. It is involved in relaxation of smooth muscles, use of fat stores for energy, it helps maintain zinc and copper levels and oxygen level in cells, it helps prevent endometrial cancer. It is associated with several other important processes that take place in the body. It stimulates the production of milk in mammary glands and is responsible for the sensation of pleasure during sexual activities. It also determines sexual behavior of an individual. It stimulates the release of prolactin in the anterior pituitary gland.

Pancreatic polypeptide

Pancreas

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) (Parathormone or Parathyrin)

Parathyroid gland

Progesterone (P4) (Steroid hormone)

Ovaries and adrenal glands; and placenta during pregnancy

Prolactin (PRL) (Luteotropic hormone or LTH)

Anterior pituitary and uterus

Prolactin Releasing Hormone (PRH)

Hypothalamus

Prostacyclin (PGI2)

Endothelium (cells in the thin layer which covers the interior surface of blood vessels)

It is involved in the relaxation of smooth muscles and widening of blood vessels.

Prostaglandins (PG)

Seminal vesicle

They perform different functions in different areas. They control calcium movement, promote cell growth, flow of the hormones, trigger hypothalamus to produce fever, promote constriction or dilation in

vascular smooth muscle cells, lower intraocular pressure, induce labor, give us the feeling of pain, help to enhance the rate of glomeruli filtration, etc. Its exact function is not yet known. It is believed that it increases the motility of sperms in semen. In women, its levels keep on changing during the menstruation cycles. It influences the mean arterial blood pressure in the body. It raises blood pressure and helps maintain the perfusion pressure in the kidneys. It regulates the secretions into the duodenum. It inhibits the production of gastric juice and helps maintain the pH of the duodenum. It controls the osmotic pressure in the body. Latest researches have shown that it is responsible for maintaining normal osmotic pressure in the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and kidneys. It regulates movements of the intestine, appetite, sleep and mood. It determines your learning skills and memory. It also plays an important role in 'blood clotting' and 'wound healing'. It brings down the rate of smooth muscle contractions and lowers the blood flow within the intestine and thus lowers the rate of gastric emptying. It curbs the action of pancreas and inhibits the release of insulin and glucagon. It curbs the release of gastrointestinal hormones and growth hormone (GH). It determines the bone density, strength and muscle mass. It plays an important role in the growth of the

Relaxin (RLN)

Uterus

Renin (Angiotensinogenase)

Kidneys

Secretin (SCT)

Duodenum

Serotonin (5-HT) (5-hydroxytryptamine)

Central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract

Somatostatin (SRIF) (growth hormoneinhibiting hormone (GHIH) or somatotropin release-inhibiting factor (SRIF))

Hypothalamus, gastrointestinal tract, islets of Langerhans (pancreas)

Testosterone (Male sex hormone) (Steroid hormone)

Testes in males and ovaries in females, adrenal glands.

Adam's apple, beard and axillary hair, chest hair, leg hair, etc., and in the associated changes like deepening of voice, puberty (maturation of sexual organs), development of scrotum, libido, etc. Thrombopoietin (TPO) (Megakaryocyte growth and development factor (MGDF)) Thromboxane (TXA2) (A type of lipid belonging to the group 'eicosanoids'.) Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (Thyrotropin) Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) (Thyroliberin or protirelin)

Liver, kidneys, striated muscles.

It helps produce platelets in the bone marrow.

Platelets

It plays an important role in clotting of blood (thrombosis). It promotes aggregation of platelets and acts as a vasoconstrictor. It regulates the release of thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). It regulates the release of thyroid-stimulating hormone, and it promotes the release of prolactin in the anterior pituitary gland. It regulates the rate of metabolic processes, it plays an important role in protein synthesis and determines the physical growth. It stimulates the basal metabolic rate, it increases the heart rate, the rate of protein synthesis and protein degradation, glucose synthesis, lipolysis, etc. It plays an important role in the development of embryo and infants.

Anterior pituitary gland

Hypothalamus

Thyroxine (T4) (A thyroid hormone)

Thyroid gland

Triiodothyronine (T3) (A thyroid hormone)

Thyroid gland