Left: A<unk>  feedback loop in a female adult. (1) Follicle-Stimulating<unk> , (2) Luteinizing<unk> , (3) Progesterone, (4) Estradiol. Right: Auxin transport from leaves to roots in Arabidopsis thaliana A<unk>  (from the Greek participle , "setting in motion") is any member of a class of signaling molecules in multicellular organisms, that are transported by intricate biological processes to distant organs to regulate physiology and behavior.<unk> s are required for the correct development of animals, plants and fungi. The lax definition of a<unk>  (as a signalling molecule that acts distant from its site of production) means that many different classes of molecule can be defined as<unk> s. Among the substances that can be considered<unk> s, are eicosanoids (e.g. prostaglandins and thromboxanes), steroids (e.g. oestrogen and brassinosteroid), amino acid derivatives (e.g. epinephrine and auxin), protein / peptides (e.g. insulin and CLE peptides) and gases (e.g ethylene and nitric oxide).<unk> s are used to communicate between organs and tissues. In vertebrates,<unk> s are responsible for the regulation of many physiological processes and behavioral activities such as digestion, metabolism, respiration, sensory perception, sleep, excretion, lactation, stress induction, growth and development, movement, reproduction, and mood manipulation. In plants,<unk> s modulate almost all aspects of development, from germination to senescence.<unk> s affect distant cells by binding to specific receptor proteins in the target cell, resulting in a change in cell function. When a<unk>  binds to the receptor, it results in the activation of a signal transduction pathway that typically activates gene transcription, resulting in increased expression of target proteins.<unk> s can also act in rapid, non-genomic pathways that can be synergistic with genomic effects. Water-soluble<unk> s (such as peptides and amines) generally act on the surface of target cells via second messengers. Lipid soluble<unk> s, (such as steroids) generally pass through the plasma membranes of target cells (both cytoplasmic and nuclear) to act within their nuclei. A notable exception to this are brassinosteroids (Brassinosteroids are a class of polyhydroxysteroids that have been recognized as a sixth class of plant<unk> s and may have utility as an anticancer drug for endocrine-responsive cancers to induce apoptosis and inhibit growth in plants) which despite being lipid soluble, still bind to their receptor at the cell surface. In vertebrates, endocrine glands are specialized organs that secrete<unk> s into the endocrine signaling system.<unk>  secretion occurs in response to specific biochemical signals and is often subject to negative feedback regulation. For instance, high blood sugar (serum glucose concentration) promotes insulin synthesis. Insulin then acts to reduce glucose levels and maintain homeostasis, leading to reduced insulin levels. Upon secretion, water soluble<unk> s are readily transported through the circulatory system. Lipid-soluble<unk> s must bond to carrier plasma glycoproteins (e.g., thyroxine-binding globulin (TBG)) to form ligand-protein complexes. Completely active<unk> s can be released into the bloodstream (as seen in insulin and growth<unk> s), but some travel as prohormones that must be activated in specific cells through a series of activation steps that are commonly highly regulated. The endocrine system secretes<unk> s directly into the bloodstream, typically via fenestrated capillaries, whereas the exocrine system secretes its<unk> s indirectly using ducts.<unk> s with paracrine function diffuse through the interstitial spaces to nearby target tissue. Plants lack specialized organs for the secretion of<unk> s, although there is spatial distribution of<unk>  production. For example, the<unk>  auxin is produced mainly at the tips of young leaves and in the shoot apical meristem. The lack of specialised glands means that the main site of<unk>  production can change throughout the life of a plant, and the site of production is dependent on the plant's age and environment.
Hormone
Xenohormone
Gastrointestinal hormone
Local hormone
Sex hormone
Neurohormone
Prohormone
Lymphokine