A hormone is a messenger molecule found in body tissues that enables cells to communicate with each other. The hormones travel through the bloodstream to the target organ or tissue, where the hormone binds to the cells and alters their ability to react to stimuli.
Hormones can be broken into one of two categories:
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- Water-soluble hormones – These hormones are composed of amino acid chains, and are usually transported through the bloodstream by carrier proteins.
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- Lipid-soluble hormones – These hormones are composed of steroids and are usually transported through the bloodstream in the form of lipoproteins.
Half Life of Hormones
The “half life” of a hormone is the amount of time it takes for the amount of hormone in the body to decrease by half. This is an important factor to consider when understanding how hormones affect the body. It’s also important to consider which type of hormone has a longer half life.
Water-Soluble Hormones
Water-soluble hormones have a relatively short half life. This is because they are quickly metabolized by the liver and excreted from the body. As a result, water-soluble hormones need to be constantly re-synthesized in order for them to remain active in the body. Examples of water-soluble hormones include insulin, thyroxine, and adrenaline.
Lipid-Soluble Hormones
Lipid-soluble hormones, on the other hand, have a much longer half life. This is because they are very stable molecules, and are not as easily metabolized or excreted. As a result, they remain active in the body for a much longer period of time. Examples of lipid-soluble hormones include estrogens, progestogens, and glucocorticoids.
Conclusion
In conclusion, lipid-soluble hormones tend to have a much longer half life than water-soluble hormones. This is because lipid-soluble hormones are very stable molecules, and are not as easily metabolized or excreted from the body. As a result, they remain active in the body for a much longer period of time.