Hormones are signaling molecules produced by specialized cells in various human tissues and organs. They regulate diverse physiological processes by binding to specific receptors. Human hormones are commonly grouped into four major structural classes: +SNClassExamples1amino acid derivativesepinephrine and thyroxine2eicosanoids prostaglandins and leukotriene3peptide/proteininsulin, growth hormone, and oxytocin4steroids cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone Spelling conventions vary between regions. For example, current North American and international usage favors estrogen and gonadotropin, whereas British usage retains the Greek digraph in oestrogen and prefers the earlier spelling gonadotrophin.
The following is a list of hormones found in Homo sapiens organized by structural classes.
Amine SN Name Abbr. Type Tissue Cells Receptor Target tissue Effect1Adrenaline (or epinephrine)EPIAmino acid derivativeadrenal glandAdrenal medulla / Tyrosineadrenergic receptornearly all tissuesincrease systolic blood pressure, glycogenolysis, lipolysis, increase cardiac output, influence goosebumps, etc.2MelatoninMTAmino acid derivativepineal glandPinealocyte / Tryptophanmelatonin receptorCNS and peripheral tissuesleep–wake cycle3Noradrenaline (or norepinephrine)NEAmino acid derivativeadrenal glandAdrenal medulla / Tyrosinenoradrenergic receptornearly all tissuesincreases both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, glycogenolysis, lipolysis increases metabolism, etc.4TriiodothyronineT3Amino acid derivativeperipheral tissue of thyroid glandThyroid follicular cell / Tyrosinethyroid hormone receptornearly every cell in the bodyincreased metabolism5ThyroxineT4Amino acid derivativethyroid glandThyroid follicular cell / Tyrosinethyroid hormone receptornearly every cell in the bodycontrol carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism and control physical, mental growth of body 6DopamineDAAmino acid derivativesubstantia nigra (mainly)Phenylalanine / TyrosineD1 and D2system-wideregulation of cellular cAMP levels, prolactin antagonist
Eicosanoid Eicosanoid for more information about this class of paracrine signalling chemicals and hormones. SN Name Abbr. Type Tissue Cells Receptor Target Tissue Effect7ProstaglandinsPGEicosanoidAll nucleated cellsprostaglandin receptorvasodilation8LeukotrienesLTEicosanoidBloodwhite blood cellsG protein-coupled receptorsincrease vascular permeability9ProstacyclinPGI2Eicosanoidprostacyclin receptorvasodilation, platelet activation inhibitor10ThromboxaneTXA2EicosanoidBloodplateletsthromboxane receptorvasoconstriction, platelet aggregation
Polypeptide (Peptide/protein)
SN Name Abbr. Type Tissue Cells Receptor Target Tissue Effect11 Amylin (or Islet Amyloid Polypeptide) IAPP Peptide pancreas pancreatic β-cells amylin receptor Slows down gastric emptying, inhibits digestive secretion to reduce food intake12 Anti-Müllerian hormone (or Müllerian-inhibiting factor/hormone) AMH (or MIF or MIH) Peptide testes Sertoli cell AMHR2 Inhibit release of prolactin and TRH from anterior pituitary
13 Adiponectin Acrp30 Peptide adipose tissue adiponectin receptors regulating glucose levels 14 Adrenocorticotropic hormone (or corticotropin) ACTH Peptide anterior pituitary corticotrope ACTH receptor → cAMP synthesis of corticosteroids (glucocorticoids and androgens) in adrenocortical cells 15 Angiotensinogen and Angiotensin AGT Peptide liver angiotensin receptor → IP3 vasoconstriction release of aldosterone from adrenal cortex dipsogen.
16 Antidiuretic hormone (or vasopressin, arginine vasopressin) ADH Peptide posterior pituitary Parvocellular neurosecretory neurons in hypothalamus Magnocellular neurosecretory cells in posterior pituitary AVPRs, VACM-1 Renal tubules of nephrons of kidneys (mainly) reabsorption of water in kidneys moderate vasoconstriction increase permeability of distal tubule of nephrons (in kidneys) to water release ACTH in anterior pituitary 17 Atrial natriuretic peptide (or atriopeptin) ANP Peptide heart ANP receptor → cGMP increase sodium and GFR excretion, antagonize venal constriction, inhibit renin secretion 18 Brain natriuretic peptide BNP Peptide heart Cardiac myocytes NPR (To a minor degree than ANP) reduce blood pressure by: reducing systemic vascular resistance, reducing blood water, sodium and fats19 Calcitonin CT Peptide thyroid gland parafollicular cell CT receptor → cAMP Construct bone, reduce blood Ca2+
20 Cholecystokinin CCK Peptide duodenum CCK receptor Release of digestive enzymes from pancreas Release of bile from gallbladder Hunger suppressant
21 Corticotropin-releasing hormone CRH Peptide hypothalamus CRF1 → cAMP Release ACTH from anterior pituitary
22 Cortistatin CORT Peptide cerebral cortex inhibitory neurons Somatostatin receptor depression of neuronal activity; induction of slow-wave sleep; reduction of locomotor activity; activation of cation selective currents not responsive to somatostatin
23 Enkephalin Peptide Kidney Chromaffin cells Opioid receptor Regulate pain 24 Endothelin Peptide Vascular endothelium Endothelial cells ET receptor Smooth muscle contraction of medium-sized vessels25 Erythropoietin EPO Peptide kidney Extraglomerular mesangial cells EpoR Stimulate erythrocyte production
26 Follicle-stimulating hormone FSH Peptide anterior pituitary gonadotrope FSH receptor → cAMP In female: stimulates maturation of Graafian follicles in ovary. In male: spermatogenesis, enhances production of androgen-binding protein by the Sertoli cells of the testes
27 Galanin GAL Peptide central nervous system and gastrointestinal tract GALR1, GALR2, and GALR3 modulation and inhibition of action potentials in neurons
28 Gastric inhibitory polypeptide GIP Peptide mucosa of the duodenum and the jejunum K cell GIPR Induces insulin secretion
29 Gastrin GAS Peptide stomach, duodenum G cell CCK2 Secretion of gastric acid by parietal cells
30 Ghrelin Peptide stomach P/D1 cell ghrelin receptor Stimulate appetite, secretion of growth hormone from anterior pituitary gland
31 Glucagon GCG Peptide pancreas alpha cells of Islets of Langerhans Glucagon receptor → cAMP glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis in liver, activates lipase enzyme in adipose tissue cells, increases blood glucose level, inhibits storage of triglyceride in liver
32 Glucagon-like peptide-1 GLP1 Peptideileum L cells GLP1R, GLP2R pancreatic beta cells of Islets of Langerhans Stimulates the adenylyl cyclase pathway, resulting in increased synthesis and release of insulin
33 Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone GnRH Peptide hypothalamus GnRH receptor → IP3 pituitary gland Release of FSH and LH from anterior pituitary.
34 Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone GHRH Peptide hypothalamus GHRH receptor → IP3 pituitary gland Release GH from anterior pituitary
35 Hepcidin HAMP Peptide liver ferroportin Inhibits iron export from cells 36 Human Chorionic Gonadotropin HCG Peptide placenta syncytiotrophoblast cells LH receptor → cAMP Promote maintenance of corpus luteum during beginning of pregnancy, Inhibit immune response, towards the human embryo, serves as the basis of early pregnancy test
37 Human placental lactogen HPL Peptide placenta Increase production of insulin and IGF-1 Increase insulin resistance and carbohydrate intolerance
38 Growth hormone GH or hGH Peptide anterior pituitary somatotropes GH receptor Stimulates growth and cell reproduction Release Insulin-like growth factor 1 from liver 39a Activin Peptide gonads, pituitary, placenta granulosa cells of ovary Sertoli cells of testes gonadotrophs in anterior pituitary trophoblasts in placenta Activin receptor (type I and II serine/threonine kinase receptors) anterior pituitary Stimulates production and secretion of FSH 39b Inhibin Peptide testes, ovary, fetus Sertoli cells of testes granulosa cells of ovary trophoblasts in foetus anterior pituitary Inhibit production of FSH40 Insulin also called hypoglycemic hormone and anti ketogenic hormone || Peptide pancreas beta cells of Islets of Langerhans insulin receptor, IGF-1, IGF-2 Intake of glucose, promotes glycogenesis, prevents glycogenolysis and neoglucogenesis, intake of lipids, synthesis of triglycerides in adipocytes, helps in oxidation of sugar through Krebs cycle, inhibits production of ketone bodies, inactivates phosphorylase enzyme, Other anabolic effects41Insulin-like growth factor (or somatomedin)IGFPeptideliverHepatocytesinsulin receptor, IGF-1Insulin-like effects, regulates cell growth and development|-42LeptinLEPPeptideadipose tissueLEP-RDecrease of appetite and increase of metabolism.
43 Lipotropin LPH Peptide anterior pituitary Corticotropes Lipolysis and steroidogenesis, stimulates melanocytes to produce melanin 44 Luteinizing hormone LH Peptide anterior pituitary gonadotropes LHR → cAMP In female: ovulation In male: stimulates Leydig cell production of testosterone 45 Melanocyte stimulating hormone MSH or α-MSH Peptide anterior pituitary/pars intermedia Melanotroph melanocortin receptor → cAMP melanogenesis by melanocytes in skin and hair 46 Motilin MLN Peptide Small intestine Motilin receptor stimulates gastric activity 47 Orexin Peptide hypothalamus OX1, OX2 Wakefulness and increased energy expenditure, increased appetite
48 Osteocalcin OCN PeptideSkeleton Osteoblasts Gprc6a Muscle Brain Pancreas Testes Favors muscle function, memory formation, testosterone synthesis and energy expenditure
49 Oxytocin OXT Peptide posterior pituitary Magnocellular neurosecretory cells OXT receptor → IP3 Stimulates contraction of cervix and vagina. Involved in orgasm, social bonding, and circadian homeostasis (body temperature, activity level, wakefulness).
50 Pancreatic polypeptide Peptide Pancreas PP cells pancreatic polypeptide receptor 1 Self-regulation of pancreatic secretions (endocrine and exocrine). It also affects hepatic glycogen levels and gastrointestinal secretions.
51 Parathyroid hormone PTH Peptide parathyroid gland parathyroid chief cell PTH receptor → cAMP increase blood Ca2+: indirectly stimulate osteoclasts Ca2+ reabsorption in kidney activate vitamin D (Slightly) decrease blood phosphate: (decreased reuptake in kidney but increased uptake from bones activate vitamin D )
52 Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating peptide PACAP Peptide multiple ADCYAP1R1, VIPR1, VIPR2 Stimulates enterochromaffin-like cells
53 Prolactin (or luteotropic hormone) PRL Peptide anterior pituitary, uterus lactotrophs of anterior pituitary Decidual cells of uterus PRL receptor Milk production in mammary glands 54 Prolactin-releasing hormone PRLH Peptide hypothalamus Release prolactin from anterior pituitary
55 Relaxin RLN PeptideCorpus luteum, Uterus, placenta, and Mammary gland Decidual cells RLN receptor Relaxation of muscle and ligament tissues in female humans as preparation for menstruation. Anticipatory release for ductus deferens in males. Cardiac vasodilator.
56 Renin Peptide Kidney Juxtaglomerular cells Activates the renin–angiotensin system by producing angiotensin I of angiotensinogen
57 Secretin SCT Peptide duodenum S cell SCT receptor Secretion of bicarbonate from liver, pancreas and duodenal Brunner's glands Enhances effects of cholecystokinin Stops production of gastric juice 58 Somatostatin (or growth hormone–inhibiting hormone or
growth hormone release–inhibiting hormone or
somatotropin release–inhibiting factor or somatotropin release–inhibiting hormone) GHIH or GHRIH or SRIF or SRIH Peptide hypothalamus, islets of Langerhans, gastrointestinal system delta cells in islets Neuroendocrince cells of the Periventricular nucleus in hypothalamus Somatostatin receptor Inhibit release of GH and TRH from anterior pituitary Suppress release of gastrin, cholecystokinin (CCK), secretin, motilin, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), enteroglucagon in gastrointestinal system Lowers rate of gastric emptying