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Hormone Transport

Meaning

Hormone Transport is the complex physiological process by which chemical messengers secreted by endocrine glands are distributed throughout the circulatory system to reach their distant target cells and tissues. Lipid-soluble hormones, such as steroid hormones like estrogen and cortisol, are typically bound to specific carrier proteins, like Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin or Corticosteroid-Binding Globulin, to enhance their solubility and stability in the aqueous plasma. Water-soluble hormones, including peptides, generally travel freely in the bloodstream to interact with cell-surface receptors. This mechanism is critical for regulating the bioavailability of the active, unbound hormone fraction that ultimately triggers cellular response, thereby governing systemic homeostasis and metabolic function.