Endocrine Signaling

The human body is a complicated structure. Many processes take place in one second. This can’t be done by only the muscles or the glands. There are also more micro-processes that we can’t able to see or visualize. For any processes, there should be some communication between those members. Some processes also happen in the cells of the human body. There is a nearly uncountable number of cells present in the body. So, for completing a process successfully, there should be some type of communication. Signaling is the said communication between cells.

What Is Signaling?

Signaling is the process to make of communication between two cells. Nerves are known for exchanging responses. Or, it is sometimes used to transfer the signals of the messages. But in the case of the cells, they are not connected. They are not connected with the help of neurons. So, they have to be some sort of communication means. Signaling is used for communication.

With those messages or signals, cells often executed some tasks. There are cell receptors that accept those signals & execute them. Sometimes cells frequently spread some messages which will be accepted by them. Sometimes they send messages to the neighboring cells. Or sometimes they send messages to the far distance cells also. This help to execute the mandatory processes of the body.

Types Of Signaling

Depending upon the nature of the transporting & accepting of the messages, the signaling can be divided into mainly three groups. But in some cases, there are four groups for this signaling purpose.

1. Autocrine Signaling: In this type of signaling, the cells secrete the chemical for themselves. It will be again accepted by itself. It is like a self-signaling process.
2. Paracrine Signaling: In this type of signaling, the cell secretes messages for its neighboring cells. The neighboring cells accept the chemical from the cells.
3. Endocrine Signaling: In this type of signaling, the cells secrete the chemical for the cells which are located far away from that cell.
4. Neurocrine Signaling: This type of signaling is very rare. This type of signaling occurs within two neuron cells.

What Is Endocrine Signaling?

Endocrine signaling is a type of signaling. In this type of signaling, one cell secretes the chemical. Those chemicals are going to affect the other cells. These cells are located far from those cells. So, for transporting the chemical to the target cells, they need to take the help of any kind of means. This is a very important signaling function.

As the word ‘Endocrine’ depicts that, the signaling is associated with the Endocrine Glands of the body. The hormones which are secreted from the body are influenced by this signaling. Chemicals travel a distance in the body. Then, they reacted with the target cells. This helps to initiate the hormone secretion process.

Characteristics Of Endocrine Signaling

1. This signaling is only used for some specific target cells. Those cells are located at a distance from that cell.
2. The chemicals which are secreted in this signaling use some type of means to spread across the body. Mainly circulatory system of the body is being used in this type of signaling.
3. This signaling is only used for the cells which are located at a distance. In between two neighboring cells, this signaling process doesn’t work.

Types Of Receptors

Receptors are the main component in Endocrine Signaling. The receptors are liable to recognize the chemicals. There are thousands of chemicals are present in the body. All of them are not built for every cell. Some of them are very sensitive. Attaching different cells can produce a harmful reaction in the body. Receptors are the protein elements. They can only able to attach to a specific chemical.

Depending upon the nature of the receptors, they can be divided into two parts. In some cases, they are used as per the nature of the chemical.

1. Surface Receptors: These are the receptors that can be found on the surface of the cells. These are the proteins that are bounded with the chemicals. Then they perform certain operations.
2. Intracellular Receptors: These are the receptors that are not located on the surface of the cells. They are located in the nucleus of the cells. In this case, the chemicals can’t able to bound with the surface receptors. They need to come inside the cells. There they bound with the receptors & perform operations. All types of steroid hormones are secreted by this process.

Mechanism Of Endocrine Signaling

The mechanism of Endocrine signaling depends upon the secretion-acceptation method. A cell which is the secretion cell secretes some types of chemicals. Then those chemicals are transported to the whole body with the help of the blood vessels. In this way, those chemicals will get in touch with the body elements. But they will not react to those body parts. As they are in search of particular target cells in the entire body.

In this way, those chemicals will come close to the target cells. Then they start reacting. A receptor is present on the surface of those target cells. They will sense those chemical & accepts the chemicals. Then they start the operation. They will get some messages from the secretory cells. As per the command, they will secrete some type of hormone or chemicals. That is needed for the particular process of the body. In this way, communication is being done in a long-distance way.

Importance Of Endocrine Signaling

Endocrine signaling is an important process in the body. It is the only way to communicate with the cells which are situated far from each other. There are no neurons or nerves present in between each cell. So, it is a difficult process to make communication between those cells. As some cells are the commanding cells & some cells are working cells. So, there should be some kind of communication present. Also, Endocrine Signaling is responsible for the hormone secretion of the body. This helps a lot in our daily life. Hormones play a significant role in our bodies. Without Endocrine Signaling, hormone production will be affected.

Difference Between Endocrine Signaling & Paracrine Signaling

Endocrine Signaling	Paracrine Signaling
In Endocrine signaling, the cell messages move to the far-away cells & commands there.	In Paracrine signaling, the cell messages move to the next or closure cells. There the commands will be fulfilled.
In Endocrine signaling, a quick response is received from the target cell.	In Paracrine signaling, a slower response is received from the target cell.
In Endocrine Signaling, the effect lasts for a short period.	In Paracrine Signaling, the effect lasts for a long period.
Hormones are examples of Endocrine Signaling.	The immune system of the body is an example of Paracrine Signaling.

Example Of Endocrine Signaling

All the hormones which are being secreted from the body is an example of Endocrine Signaling. But also, the example of the Pituitary gland can be taken. From the pituitary gland, many hormones are secreted. Those hormones don’t directly affect. They affect some other organs. From there, a required hormone is secreted.

From the pituitary gland, Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) is secreted. This is the chemical that is secreted from the anterior pituitary gland. This chemical is transported to the target cells. The target cell of this chemical is the adrenal glands. So, the pituitary gland is located far away from the adrenal gland. So, to reach the adrenal gland, they need to take the help of any kind of means. The blood vessels will help in this case. 

The ACTH will be transported to the adrenal gland there. The receptors of the adrenal gland will then accept the ACTH hormones. Then, as a result, they will secrete the Adrenaline hormone. This is, the operation is performed by the chemical or hormone ACTH. Then the Adrenaline will act upon some other parts of the body in the same way. In this way, the whole process is being performed by Endocrine Signaling.

FAQs On Endocrine Signaling

Question1: What is Hormone Signaling?

Answer:

Endocrine signaling is also known as Hormone Signaling. As all the hormones are secreted with the help of endocrine signaling. That is why it is often named hormone signaling.

Question 2: Can the liver cells able to perform Endocrine Signaling?

Answer:

The formation of liver cells is an example of autocrine signaling. The cells secrete some chemicals. Those chemicals again will be accepted by the same cells. This is going to give a command to the same cells to reproduce new cells there. It is a type of self-signaling.

Question3: A chemical affects some allergens or foreign particles. Is the chemical secreted by endocrine signaling?

Answer:

No. The Chemical which is being secreted for the defensive purpose of the body is done by paracrine signaling. As the allergens will locate near the cells from which those chemicals secrete. So, this will not come under endocrine signaling. It will come under paracrine signaling.

Question 4: What is the receptor which is responsible for ACTH acceptance?

Answer:

The receptor which is responsible for the acceptance of the ACTH hormone is known as Melanocortin. This is a protein of G type. It helps to bind with the ACTH hormone & produce Adrenaline from the Adrenal gland.

Question 5: Hypothalamus also controls the pituitary Gland. Does it be also done by Endocrine Signaling?

Answer:

Yes. As there is a distance between the Pituitary Gland & the Hypothalamus. Also, they are being used for the secretion of hormones. All those things are fulfilling the criteria of Endocrine Signaling. So, the commanding of the Hypothalamus on the Pituitary Gland will be a part of Endocrine Signaling.