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Endogenous Ligand Saturation

Meaning

Endogenous Ligand Saturation describes the physiological condition where the concentration of a naturally produced hormone, or endogenous ligand, in the systemic circulation is sufficiently high to occupy nearly all available cognate receptors on the target cells. When this state is reached, further increases in the circulating hormone level will not elicit a proportionally greater biological response, signifying a ceiling effect on cellular signaling. Understanding this saturation point is vital for interpreting high-normal hormone levels and predicting the futility of further stimulation or exogenous administration.