BIO - TERMS - HORMONE Flashcards
activational effect
The ability of a hormone to activate reproductive processes or behaviors in the mature organism.
adrenal cortex
The outer segment of the adrenal gland; releases cortisol when stimulated by the pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone.
Adrenocortical hormones
Steroid hormones secreted by the adrenal glands. There are two types of these hormones: mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids.
adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
A hormone released by the anterior pituitary in response to corticotropin-releasing hormone; stimulates the release of cortisol from the adrenal gland.
aldosterone
A steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands that helps regulate blood pressure and increases the reabsorption of sodium and secretion of potassium from the kidney tubules.
Amylin
A hormone that can form amyloid deposits in the endocrine pancreas.
anorectic peptide
A neuroactive peptide that acts to inhibit feeding behavior; examples are cholecystokinin (CCK), alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone ( MSH), and cocaine- and amphetamineregulated transcript peptide (CART).
Atrial natriuretic factor
A hormone from the heart that stimulates a membrane-bound guanylate cyclase.
bioassay
A method for measuring the amount of a biologically active substance (such as a hormone) in a sample by quantifying the biological response to aliquots of that sample.
climacteric
(klı̄-mak′ter-ik, klı̄- mak-ter′ik) Changes occurring in the male and female reproductive systems, beginning at around 50 years, resulting in altered levels of reproductive hormones.
corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
A hormone released by neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus; stimulates the release of ACTH from the anterior pituitary.
cytokine receptor
Cell-surface receptor that binds a specific cytokine or hormone and acts through the JAK–STAT signaling pathway.
Desmolase
The rate-limiting enzyme for the synthesis of steroid hormones.
Ecdysone
A hormone that influences development in insects.
effector
(ē-fek′tŏr, -tōr) Peripheral tissue or organ that responds to nervous or hormonal stimulation.
endocrine cell
Specialized animal cell that secretes a hormone into the blood. Usually part of a gland, such as the thyroid or pituitary gland.
erythropoiesis
(ĕ-rith′rō-poyē′ sis) Formation of erythrocytes.
erythropoietin
(ĕ-rith-rō-poy′ĕ- tin) (EPO) Hormone that stimulates erythropoiesis.
follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
A hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary; its diverse roles include the growth of follicles in the ovaries and the maturation of sperm in the testes.
Glucagon
A pancreatic hormone that stimulates the glucose-producing pathways of the liver.
gonadocorticoids
(gō-na′dō-kōr′tikōyd) Group of sex hormones secreted from the adrenal cortex, including estrogen and androgen.
gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)
A hypophysiotropic hormone secreted by the hypothalamus; regulates the release of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone from the anterior pituitary.
gonadotropins
Hormones secreted by the anterior pituitary that regulate the release of androgens and estrogens from the testes and ovaries.
hepcidin
A liver peptide hormone that functions to block iron export from mucosal cells by blocking the action of ferroportin.
hormone receptor
A protein in, or on the surface of, target cells that binds a specific hormone and initiates the cellular response.
hormone response element (HRE)
A short (12 to 20 bp) DNA sequence that binds receptors for steroid, retinoid, thyroid, and vitamin D hormones, altering the expression of the contiguous genes. Each hormone has a consensus sequence preferred by the cognate receptor.
Hormone-sensitive lipase
An enzyme in adipose cells that hydrolyzes stored triglycerides.
hypophysiotropic hormone
A peptide hormone, such as corticotropin-releasing hormone or gonadotropin- releasing hormone, released into the blood by the parvocellular neurosecretory cells of the hypothalamus; stimulates or inhibits the secretion of hormones from the anterior pituitary.
hypothalamo-pituitary portal circulation
A system of blood vessels that carries hypophysiotropic hormones from the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary.
JAK–STAT signaling pathway
Signaling pathway activated by cytokines and some hormones, providing a rapid route from the plasma membrane to the nucleus to alter gene transcription. Involves cytoplasmic Janus kinases (JAKs), and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs).
luteinizing hormone (LH)
A hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary; its diverse roles include the stimulation of testosterone production in males and the facilitation of follicle development and ovulation in females.
Melatonin
A pineal hormone derived from serotonin.
Metapleural gland
Paired structure at the posterolateral end of the alitrunk that is found only in ants. The composition of gland secretions differs among ant species and can contain territorial marking pheromones, antibiotic compounds, and the plant growth hormone indole-3-acetic acid.
mineralocorticoid
(min′er-al-ō- kōr′ti-kōyd) Group of hormones released from the adrenal cortex that help regulate electrolyte levels in the body; e.g., aldosterone.
neurohormone
A hormone released by neurons into the bloodstream.
nuclear receptor superfamily
Intracellular receptors for hydrophobic signal molecules such as steroid and thyroid hormones and retinoic acid. The receptor-ligand complex acts as a transcription factor in the nucleus.
Obestatin
A hormone produced by stomach cells that produced an anorectic response.
orexigenic peptide
A neuroactive peptide that stimulates feeding behavior; examples are neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti-related peptide (AgRP), melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH), and orexin.
organizational effect
The ability of a hormone to influence the prenatal development of sex organs and the brain.
oxytocin
A small peptide hormone released from the posterior pituitary by magnocellular neurosecretory cells; stimulates uterine contractions and milk letdown from the mammary glands.
paraventricular nucleus
A region of the hypothalamus involved in the regulation of the autonomic nervous system and in controlling the secretion of thyroid-stimulating hormone and adrenocorticotropic hormone from the anterior pituitary.
parvocellular neurosecretory cell
A small neuron of the medial and periventricular hypothalamus that secretes hypophysiotropic peptide hormones into the hypothalamo-pituitary portal circulation to stimulate or inhibit the release of hormones from the anterior pituitary.
plant growth regulator (plant hormone)
Signal molecule that helps coordinate growth and development. Examples are ethylene, auxins, gibberellins, cytokinins, abscisic acid, and the brassinosteroids.
Progestins
A class of steroid hormones that are precursors for the other steroid hormones.
Prohormone
The inactive or less active biosynthetic precursor of an active hormone.
Proopiomelanocortin
A prohormone in the anterior pituitary gland.
Pseudohypoparathyroidism
Reduced responsiveness to parathyroid hormone.
regulated secretory pathway
A second secretory pathway found mainly in cells specialized for secreting products rapidly on demand—such as hormones, neurotransmitters, or digestive enzymes—in which soluble proteins and other substances are initially stored in secretory vesicles for later release.
Thyroglobulin
A glycoprotein secreted into the thyroid follicle; precursor of the thyroid hormones.
Thyroperoxidase
The key enzyme of thyroid hormone synthesis.
thyroxin (T4)
A thyroid prohormone that contains four atoms of iodine per molecule of zinc; affects basal metabolism.
Thyroxine-binding globulin
The main binding protein for thyroid hormones in the blood.
transforming growth factor-β superfamily (TGFβ superfamily)
Large family of structurally related secreted proteins that act as hormones and local mediators to control a wide range of functions in animals, including during development. It includes the TGFβ/activin and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) subfamilies.
triiodothyronine (T3)
A thyroid hormone produced from thyroxin by the removal of an iodine atom; it is metabolically active, affecting many reactions, including increasing the basal metabolic rate.
tropic hormone (tropin)
A peptide hormone that stimulates a specific target gland to secrete its hormone; for example, thyrotropin produced by the pituitary stimulates secretion of thyroxine by the thyroid.
vasopressin
A small peptide hormone released from the posterior pituitary by magnocellular neurosecretory cells; promotes water retention and decreased urine production by the kidney; also called antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
white adipose tissue (WAT)
Nonthermogenic adipose tissue rich in triacylglycerols stored and mobilized in response to hormonal signals. Transfer of electrons in the mitochondrial respiratory chain is tightly coupled to ATP synthesis. Compare brown adipose tissue.
