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Hormone Mimicry

Meaning

A phenomenon in which an exogenous chemical substance, often an environmental endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC), structurally or functionally imitates an endogenous hormone, enabling it to interact with the body’s native endocrine receptors. These substances can bind to hormone receptors, leading to an inappropriate activation or blockade of the normal signaling pathway. This molecular deception disrupts the finely tuned physiological communication, potentially causing adverse health effects, especially during sensitive periods of development.